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


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


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



RESET




Word of the Day

24 November 2024

CUNT

(noun) a person (usually but not necessarily a woman) who is thoroughly disliked; “she said her son thought Hillary was a bitch”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.

coffee icon