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. Also . Skiing. 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. take a powder 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

Derived Forms

• ˈpowderer, noun
• ˈpowdery, adjective

Other Words From

• powder·er noun

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, Slang. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing powder

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

Example Sentences

Following the protest, English Heritage said experts had quickly removed the orange powder from the stones.

From BBC

Two people have been charged in connection with an incident in which Stonehenge was sprayed with orange powder during a Just Stop Oil protest.

From BBC

On Wednesday the Sun newspaper published pictures it says were taken during this summer's European Championship, alleging they appear to show Coote sniffing a white powder through a rolled up US bank note.

From BBC

“The officers also noticed a white powder residue that was loose in the suitcase and was visible on their black gloves,” according to an affidavit summarizing the incident.

From Los Angeles Times

Although she admitted to purchasing the white T-shirts from Target — and had the receipts to prove it — she “claimed to have no knowledge” of the white powder that was caked onto the wet shirts, the affidavit states.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grate