Starchy describes foods that are full of starch, a type of carbohydrate that gives you energy. Potatoes, rice, bread, and pasta are all starchy foods. Your body breaks down the starch into sugars that fuel your muscles and brain, which is why athletes often eat starchy meals before competitions.

Starchy foods have a particular texture: they're often thick, filling, and a bit dry or dense. A baked potato feels starchy in your mouth, different from the crispness of an apple or the juiciness of a strawberry. Beans, corn, and oats are also starchy.

The word can also describe behavior that's extremely formal and stiff, like someone who acts uncomfortable or overly proper. If a normally friendly teacher suddenly becomes starchy and rigid when the principal walks in, they might stand up straighter and speak in a more formal tone. When someone acts starchy, they're being about as flexible and relaxed as a starched collar, which is to say, not flexible or relaxed at all.