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

/ 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. 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

Other Word Forms

• powderer noun
• powdery adjective

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, 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.

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

Example Sentences

France double dips his homemade French toast, first in an egg mixture combined with half-and-half, whole milk, cinnamon and powdered sugar and then into shredded coconut.

From Salon

Bodycare's no-nonsense store layouts are known for their bright lighting, and window displays that often feature piles of toilet tissue or pyramids of washing up powder.

From BBC

Everyone is obsessed with heat, from “Hot Ones” to gas-station chips dusted in ghost pepper powder.

From Salon

She’s a kooky chef whose signature seasoning is a mix of powdered anchovy and blueberry.

From Los Angeles Times

Scanning the spice rack, I added garlic powder, onion powder and a very, very generous crank of black pepper, and the butter thickened under the stir of a spoonful of flour.

From Salon

Related Words

• crumb 
• dust