Starch: meaning, definitions and examples

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starch

 

[ stɑːrtʃ ]

Context #1

cooking

Starch is a carbohydrate that is commonly found in plants, serving as a storage form of energy. It is composed of long chains of glucose molecules and is a major source of calories in the human diet. Starch is often used as a thickening agent in cooking.

Synonyms

carbohydrate, polysaccharide, thickener

Examples of usage

  • Add a bit of starch to the sauce to thicken it up.
  • Potatoes and rice are rich in starch.
  • Cornstarch is commonly used in baking.
Context #2

chemistry

In chemistry, starch is a white, tasteless, odorless, and solid substance that consists of a mixture of two types of complex carbohydrates: amylose and amylopectin. It is commonly used in various industries, such as textile, paper, and pharmaceutical.

Synonyms

complex carbohydrate, polysaccharide

Examples of usage

  • The starch molecule is made up of glucose units.
  • Starch can be broken down into sugars through enzymatic reactions.

Translations

Translations of the word "starch" in other languages:

🇵🇹 amido

🇮🇳 स्टार्च

🇩🇪 Stärke

🇮🇩 pati

🇺🇦 крохмаль

🇵🇱 skrobia

🇯🇵 でんぷん (denpun)

🇫🇷 amidon

🇪🇸 almidón

🇹🇷 nişasta

🇰🇷 전분 (jeonbun)

🇸🇦 نشا (nasha)

🇨🇿 škrob

🇸🇰 škrob

🇨🇳 淀粉 (diànfěn)

🇸🇮 škrob

🇮🇸 sterkja

🇰🇿 крахмал

🇬🇪 სახამებელი (saxamebeli)

🇦🇿 nişasta

🇲🇽 almidón

Word origin

The word 'starch' comes from the Old French 'estarche', which is derived from the Latin 'amylum' and the Greek 'amylon', meaning 'fine flour'. Starch has been used for centuries by humans for various purposes, including as a food source and for industrial applications.

See also: starchily.