POWDER

powder

(noun) any of various cosmetic or medical preparations dispensed in the form of a pulverized powder

powder, pulverization, pulverisation

(noun) a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized

gunpowder, powder

(noun) a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks

powder

(verb) apply powder to; “She powdered her nose”; “The King wears a powdered wig”

powderize, powderise, powder, pulverize, pulverise

(verb) make into a powder by breaking up or cause to become dust; “pulverize the grains”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

powder (countable and uncountable, plural powders)

The fine particles which are the result of reducing dry substance by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or the result of decay; dust.

(cosmetics) A mixture of fine dry, sweet-smelling particles applied to the face or other body parts, to reduce shine or to alleviate chaffing.

An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder.

(informal) Ellipsis of powder snow. Light, dry, fluffy snow.

Ellipsis of powder blue. The colour powder blue.

Verb

powder (third-person singular simple present powders, present participle powdering, simple past and past participle powdered)

(transitive) To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder.

(transitive) To sprinkle with powder, or as if with powder.

(intransitive) To use powder on the hair or skin.

(intransitive) To turn into powder; to become powdery.

(obsolete, transitive) To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat.

Synonyms

• (to reduce to fine particles): pound, grind, comminute, pulverize, triturate

Anagrams

• powdre, powred, prowed

Source: Wiktionary

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Pow"der, n. Etym: [OE. poudre, pouldre, F. poudre, OF. also poldre, puldre, L. pulvis, pulveris: cf. pollen fine flour, mill dust, E. pollen. Cf. Polverine, Pulverize.]

1. The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or into which it falls by decay; dust. Grind their bones to powder small. Shak.

2. An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder. See Gunpowder. Atlas powder, Baking powder, etc. See under Atlas, Baking, etc.

– Powder down (Zoöl.), the peculiar dust, or exfoliation, of powder-down feathers.

– Powder-down feather (Zoöl.), one of a peculiar kind of modified feathers which sometimes form patches on certain parts of some birds. They have a greasy texture and a scaly exfoliation.

– Powder-down patch (Zoöl.), a tuft or patch of powder-down feathers.

– Powder hose, a tube of strong linen, about an inch in diameter, filled with powder and used in firing mines. Farrow.

– Powder hoy (Naut.), a vessel specially fitted to carry powder for the supply of war ships. They are usually painted red and carry a red flag.

– Powder magazine, or Powder room. See Magazine, 2.

– Powder mine, a mine exploded by gunpowder. See Mine.

– Powder monkey (Naut.), a boy formerly employed on war vessels to carry powder; a powder boy.

– Powder post. See Dry rot, under Dry.

– Powder puff. See Puff, n.

Pow"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Powdered; p. pr. & vb. n. Powdering.] Etym: [F. poudrer.]

1. To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder; to comminute; to pulverize; to triturate.

2. To sprinkle with powder, or as with powder; to be sprinkle; as, to powder the hair. A circling zone thou seest Powdered with stars. Milton.

3. To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat. [Obs.]

Pow"der, v. i.

1. To be reduced to powder; to become like powder; as, some salts powder easily.

2. To use powder on the hair or skin; as, she paints and powders.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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