*starch*

a. Severely critical. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Severely criticism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Severe criticism. [ Obs. ] Sir J. Harrington. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Clearstarched p. pr. & vb. n. Clearstraching. ] To stiffen with starch, and then make clear by clapping with the hands; as, to clearstarch muslin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who clearstarches. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Starch made from Indian corn, esp. a fine white flour used for puddings, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. stearc stark, strong, rough. See Stark. ] Stiff; precise; rigid. [ R. ] Killingbeck. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From starch stiff, cf. G. stärke, fr. stark strong. ] 1. (Chem.) A widely diffused vegetable substance found especially in seeds, bulbs, and tubers, and extracted (as from potatoes, corn, rice, etc.) as a white, glistening, granular or powdery substance, without taste or smell, and giving a very peculiar creaking sound when rubbed between the fingers. It is used as a food, in the production of commercial grape sugar, for stiffening linen in laundries, in making paste, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Starch is a carbohydrate, being the typical amylose, C6H10O5, and is detected by the fine blue color given to it by free iodine. It is not fermentable as such, but is changed by diastase into dextrin and maltose, and by heating with dilute acids into dextrose. Cf. Sugar, Inulin, and Lichenin. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: A stiff, formal manner; formality. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Starch hyacinth (Bot.), the grape hyacinth; -- so called because the flowers have the smell of boiled starch. See under Grape. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Starched p. pr. & vb. n. Starching. ] To stiffen with starch. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Stiffened with starch. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Stiff; precise; formal. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being starched or starchy{ 5 }; stiffness in manners; formality.
Syn. -- starchiness, starchness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who starches. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being starchy; stiffness in manners; formality.
Syn. -- starchedness, starchness. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a starched or starch manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being starched or starchy{ 5 }; stiffness of manner; preciseness.
Syn. -- starchedness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) The cuckoopint, the tubers of which yield a fine quality of starch. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to starch. [ PJC ]

2. Containing or consisting of starch; -- used especially of foods. [ PJC ]

3. Resembling starch; stiff. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Stiffened by use of starch; starched{ 1 }; -- of clothing. [ PJC ]

5. Formal in manner; precise.
Syn. -- starch. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. un- + starch. ] To free from starch; to make limp or pliable. [ 1913 Webster ]