powder
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /ˈpaʊ.də(ɹ)/
Noun

powder

  1. The fine particles which are the result of reducing dry substance by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or the result of decay; dust.
    • 3 February 2017, Deborah Orr writing in The Guardian, Veg crisis, what veg crisis? If we can’t have courgettes, then let us eat kale ↗
      Let them stop fretting about vegetables denied by the weather and eat chilli powder. Just explain to them that they really shouldn’t think about spiralising it, because that doesn’t work.
    • c. 1588-1593 William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Titus Andronicus
      Grind their bones to powder small.
  2. (cosmetics) A mixture of fine dry, sweet-smelling particles applied to the face or other body parts, to reduce shine or to alleviate chaffing.
    • 1912, Willa Cather, The Bohemian Girl:
      She was redolent of violet sachet powder, and had warm, soft, white hands, but she danced divinely, moving as smoothly as the tide coming in.
  3. An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder.
  4. (informal) Ellipsis of powder snow#English|powder snow Light, dry, fluffy snow.
  5. Ellipsis of powder blue#English|powder blue The colour powder blue.
Translations Translations
  • German: Puder
  • Russian: пу́дра
Verb

powder (powders, present participle powdering; past and past participle powdered)

  1. (transitive) To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder.
  2. (transitive) To sprinkle with powder, or as if with powder.
    to powder one's hair
  3. (intransitive) To use powder on the hair or skin.
    • 1778-1787, Frances Burney, The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay
      If she is grave, and reads steadily on, she dismisses me, whether I am dressed or not; but at all times she never forgets to send me away while she is powdering, with a consideration not to spoil my clothes
  4. (intransitive) To turn into powder; to become powdery.
    • 1934, Edward Knight, The Clinical Journal Volume 63
      Ample evidence is brought forward to show that the higher incidence of chronic interstitial nephritis in Queensland is due to lead paint on the verandahs and railings of the houses, which powders easily during the long Australian summer.
  5. (obsolete, transitive) To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations
  • French: se poudrer, se repoudrer
  • Russian: пу́дриться
  • Spanish: ponerse polvos, empolvarse
Translations
  • French: se réduire en poudre, se pulvériser
  • Spanish: pulverizarse, hacerse polvo



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