Starchy thing in this pudding (4)
I believe the answer is:
spud
'starchy thing' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'in this pudding' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'SPUD' is hidden in the letters of 'this pudding'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for spud that I've seen before include "Tater" , "One might have an eye" , "The common potato" , "Vegetable" , "Potato (informal)" .)