powder

¹ American  

[pou-der] / ˈpaʊ dər /

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.

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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 American  

[pou-der] / ˈpaʊ dər /

verb (used without object)

1. British Dialect. to rush.

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noun

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

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.

powder British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to turn into powder; pulverize

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

powder More Idioms  

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

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Other Word Forms

• powderer noun
• powdery adjective

Etymology

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

Explanation

Powder is a loose substance made up of extremely tiny, dry, solid grains. Think of the baking powder and cocoa powder you use when you make your famous chocolate layer cake. Powder is usually made by grinding a hard material until it's the consistency of flour, fine sand, or light snow — in fact, freshly fallen, fluffy snow is often called powder. There's a fine line between a grain and a powder, but generally powders have the characteristic of clumping together, while grains are more loose and separate. When you powder something, you apply powder to it. The Latin root, pulverem, means "dust."

Example Sentences

“Unless you were skiing beautiful powder and then hit this, honestly, I would challenge anybody to know the difference.”

From Slate • Apr. 11, 2026

This in exchange for quickly ignored sanctions, making Iran the powder keg that it was before Feb. 28.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

I always get the Andante, a cold brew with maple syrup, salted sweet cream foam, cacao powder and pink salt.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Start with aromatics: a little oil in the pan, onion and garlic powder if that’s what you have, or the fresh versions if you don’t.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

Her throne was an old cast-off powder puff.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• crumb
• dust