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