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View synonyms for

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. Skiing.Also 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

/ ˈ貹ʊə /

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. slangto run away or disappear

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to turn into powder; pulverize

  2. (tr) to cover or sprinkle with or as if with powder

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • powderer noun
  • ˈǷɻ noun
  • ˈǷɻ adjective
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of powder1

C13: from Old French poldre, from Latin pulvis dust
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. take a powder, 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.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The fine powder released by certain grasses, trees and plants is causing chaos for the many who're allergic to pollen.

From

You put chocolate powder in milk, and it froths.

From

Unknown millennia later, you’ll spot dried daisies on Lucy’s dresser, along with more exotic blossoms and puffs and powders that show how overly elaborate courtship has become.

From

But somewhere on its journey, the white powder had been switched for salt.

From

“Much sooner: less dust and powder, fewer rocks and pipes, enough days given back that might have added up to years.”

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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