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

Add salt, pepper, a little garlic powder, Italian seasoning, whatever you’re in the mood for.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If the tech industry were a bakery, dysprosium would be like baking powder: It is used in small quantities but essential for enabling electric-car motors, wind turbines, military systems and computer-chip machinery.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Since this is feel-good TV, McKinnon quietly strides over to the man and places a can of depilatory powder on his sink top, giving him a meaningful look before walking away.

Read more on Salon

Thousands of potential targets are available for private-equity sponsors with billions of dollars of dry powder.

Read more on MarketWatch

He and others also recommended I keep compression bandages and styptic powder—which can be applied to small wounds to help stop bleeding—in stock.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• crumb 
• dust