noun
cornflour
KORN-flow-uh
Cornflour (noun) means In British English, a very fine starch powder made from corn and used in cooking as a thickener or to stop food sticking. Example: “Stir a spoonful of cornflour into the sauce to thicken it.”
noun
1
British In British English, a very fine starch powder made from corn and used in cooking as a thickener or to stop food sticking.
"Stir a spoonful of cornflour into the sauce to thicken it."
"Dust the tin with cornflour so the cake doesn't stick."
"The recipe calls for cornflour rather than plain flour."
2
A flour ground from corn used for baking and cooking.
"The bread was made with a mix of wheat flour and cornflour."
"She swapped in cornflour to make the loaf gluten-free."
How to use cornflour
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCornflour is the British name for the fine white starch used to thicken sauces.
When to use it
Cornflour is standard British English; American English uses cornstarch instead.
Memory tip
If a British recipe says cornflour, reach for what an American recipe would call cornstarch.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
stir in cornflour
thicken with cornflour
a spoonful of cornflour
cornflour and water
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Fill the gap
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Stir a spoonful of _____ into the sauce to thicken it.
Etymology
Cornflour is built from corn plus flour, and it forms a piecewise doublet with cornflower.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for cornflour
See all rhymes for cornflour →Frequently asked questions
What is cornflour used for?
It is mainly used in British cooking as a thickener for sauces, soups and puddings, and to keep food from sticking.
Is cornflour the same as cornstarch?
Yes, when used as a thickener, cornflour in British English is what cornstarch is in American English.
Is cornflour the same as cornflower?
No, though the two words sound identical. Cornflour is a starch used in cooking, while cornflower is a plant.
What is the meaning of cornflour?
"cornflour" (noun) means in British English, a very fine starch powder made from corn and used in cooking as a thickener or to stop food sticking.
