Definition

Noun (plural form of 'starch') 1. Foodstuffs rich in natural starch: A category of foods that are significant sources of starch, a complex carbohydrate. This commonly includes staple foods like potatoes, rice, bread, pasta, and cereals.

Usage

The noun "starches" is used to refer to this group of starchy foods collectively, often in nutritional, dietary, or culinary contexts. It is typically treated as a plural noun.

Examples

• Dietary Advice: "For a balanced meal, include plenty of vegetables, a lean protein, and a serving of starches like brown rice or quinoa."
• Nutritional Context: "Simple carbohydrates are found in sugars, while complex carbohydrates are found in starches and fiber."
• Culinary Description: "The meal was heavy on starches, with mashed potatoes, bread rolls, and corn."

Advanced Usage

• Countable vs. Uncountable: While "starch" as a substance is uncountable (e.g., "This shirt has too much starch"), "starches" as food items is plural and countable. You can refer to "two starches" on a plate.
• Formal/Technical Use: In nutritional science, "starches" precisely refers to the digestible polysaccharides present in these foods, as opposed to sugars or fibers.

Variants and Related Words

• Starch (noun, uncountable):
  • A white, tasteless, complex carbohydrate found in many plants, serving as an energy store.
  • A substance used to stiffen fabric.
• Starchy (adjective): Having a high starch content; (of food) like starch in texture; (of behavior) stiff or formal.
  • "Starchy vegetables include potatoes and corn."
  • "The waiter was very starchy and formal."

Synonyms

• Carbohydrates (specifically complex carbohydrates)
• Staple foods (in the context of being dietary staples)

Related Phrases

• "Cut down on starches": A common dietary recommendation to reduce intake of starchy foods, often for weight management or blood sugar control.
  • "His doctor advised him to cut down on starches and increase his vegetable intake."

Noun

1. foodstuff rich in natural starch (especially potatoes, rice, bread)