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Starchy

/ˈstɑːrtʃi/

adjectiveB1

Definition

Starchy means having a lot of starch, which is a natural substance in many foods that gives energy. When food is starchy, it feels a bit dry or powdery and can be thick when cooked. The word can also describe a person or thing that seems stiff, formal, or not relaxed.

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See It in Action

Containing a lot of starch (food-related)

  • •Potatoes and rice are starchy foods that provide energy.
  • •The sauce became thick and starchy after cooking for a long time.
  • •Starchy vegetables are important in many diets around the world.

Stiff, formal, or very proper (describing behavior or style)

  • •He had a starchy manner that made people feel uncomfortable.
  • •The old-fashioned dress looked starchy and stiff.
  • •Her starchy attitude made it hard to make friends.

Make It Stick

  • ✓Think of 'starchy' like 'dry' or 'powdery,' but about food that has starch, like potatoes or bread
  • ✓Picture a cooked potato or rice grains that feel a little thick and heavy in your mouth
  • ✓It's the feeling when you eat bread that fills you up and gives energy
  • ✓Sounds like 'star-chee' → imagine a star made of tiny white grains of powder (starch)
  • ✓In stories, a 'starchy' person might be someone very serious or strict, like a teacher who always follows rules
  • ✓NOT like 'sweet' (soft, sugary), starchy foods are more filling and less sugary
  • ✓NOT like 'soft' (easy, relaxed), starchy behavior means stiff or formal, not casual

Try Other Words

  • •Carbohydrate-rich: containing many carbohydrates (Use when focusing on the nutritional content of food)
  • •Powdery: having a dry, soft texture like powder (Use when describing texture more than content)
  • •Formal: very proper or official (Use when describing stiff or serious behavior or style)
  • •Rigid: stiff and not able to bend or change (Use when describing behavior or objects that are very strict or hard)

Unboxing

  • •Word parts: 'starch' (a carbohydrate substance in plants) + suffix '-y' (meaning 'having' or 'full of')
  • •Etymology: From English 'starch,' originally from Old English 'sterc,' related to firmness or stiffness
  • •Historical development: Originally used for foods high in starch, later extended to describe stiff or formal qualities
  • •Modern usage: Commonly used in food descriptions and to describe formal or stiff behavior or clothing

Reflect & Connect

•How does the word 'starchy' help you think about the difference between soft and firm textures in food?
•Can a person be both 'starchy' and friendly? How might that look?

Fill in the blanks

1.Potatoes are ___ foods because they contain a lot of ___ that gives energy.
2.When cooked too long, some sauces become ___ and lose their smooth texture.
3.A ___ person often acts very serious and ___ in social situations.
4.The shirt looked ___ because it was starched to make it ___.
5.Unlike sweet foods, starchy foods are ___ and give long-lasting energy.
6.People sometimes describe formal dinners as ___ because of the ___ behavior expected.
7.You can tell a vegetable is starchy if it feels ___ or ___ when you touch it raw.