powder

¹

[pou-der]

noun

1. any solid substance reduced to a state of fine, loose particles by crushing, grinding, disintegration, etc.

2. a preparation in this form, as gunpowder or face powder.

3. Skiing.,  Also loose, usually fresh snow that is not granular, wet, or packed.

verb (used with object)

1. to reduce to powder; pulverize.

2. to sprinkle or cover with powder.

   She powdered the cookies with confectioners' sugar.

3. to apply powder to (the face, skin, etc.) as a cosmetic.

4. to sprinkle or strew as if with powder.

   A light snowfall powdered the landscape.

5. to ornament in this fashion, as with small objects scattered over a surface.

   a dress lightly powdered with sequins.

verb (used without object)

1. to use powder as a cosmetic.

2. to become pulverized.

powder

²

[pou-der]

verb (used without object)

1. British Dialect.,  to rush.

noun

1. British Dialect.,  a sudden, frantic, or impulsive rush.

powder

/ ˈpaʊdə /

noun

1. a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles

2. any of various preparations in this form, such as gunpowder, face powder, or soap powder

3. fresh loose snow, esp when considered as skiing terrain

4. slang,  to run away or disappear

verb

1. to turn into powder; pulverize

2. (tr) to cover or sprinkle with or as if with powder

Other Word Forms

• powderer noun
• powdery adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of powder¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English noun poudre, pouder, from Old French poudre, pouldre, from Latin pulver- (stem of pulvis ) “dust, powder”; akin to pollen; the verb is derivative of the noun

Origin of powder²

First recorded in 1625–35; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of powder¹

C13: from Old French poldre, from Latin pulvis dust

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take a powder, to leave in a hurry; depart without taking leave, as to avoid something unpleasant: Also take a runout powder.

   He took a powder and left his mother to worry about his gambling debts.

see keep one's powder dry; sitting on a powder keg; take a powder.

Example Sentences

They are meant to collect the powdered tear gas chemicals, to keep the irritants from being tracked into the building on the soles of their shoes like dust.

From BBC

The end result is a high-protein powder that is essentially dairy, but which Verley says is suitable for vegans as no cows are involved.

From BBC

Straight from my grandmother’s recipe card: melted butter, grainy Dijon, a dollop of mayo, a splash of Worcestershire, garlic and onion powders, a little brown sugar, and a shower of poppy seeds.

From Salon

"I'm trapped," Ali Watson tells me as she points to packs of bovine collagen powder in her kitchen.

From BBC

A dusting of powdered sugar if you like.

From Salon

Related Words

• crumb 
• dust