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powder
pow·der / ˈpoudər/ • n. fine dry particles produced by the grinding, crushing, or disintegration of a solid substance: when the powder is mixed with water, it becomes a creamy white paste cocoa powder | [in sing.] crush the poppy seeds to a powder. ∎ (also face powder) a cosmetic in this form designed to be applied to a person's face with a brush or soft pad. ∎ dated a medicine or drug in this form, usually designed to be dissolved in a liquid. ∎ (also powder snow) light, dry, newly fallen snow: [as adj.] powder skiing. ∎ short for gunpowder (sense 1). • v. [tr.] 1. apply powder to (the face or body): she powdered her face and put on a dab of perfume. ∎ sprinkle or cover (a surface) with powder or a powdery substance: broken glass powdered the floor | fig. high cheekbones powdered with freckles. 2. reduce (a substance) to a powder by drying or crushing it: then the rose petals are dried and powdered | [as adj.] (powdered) powdered milk. PHRASES: keep one's powder dry remain cautious and ready for a possible emergency. take a powder inf. depart quickly, esp. in order to avoid a difficult situation. |
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"powder." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "powder." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-powder.html "powder." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-powder.html |
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powder
powder any mass of fine particles or dust prepared by various mechanical means, e.g., grinding of solid substances, or by chemical means, e.g., precipitation from solutions. In a special sense, the word is applied to powdered propellant explosives, e.g., gunpowder, and to powdered substances that produce a bright light when ignited. See explosive . |
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"powder." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "powder." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-powder.html "powder." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-powder.html |
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powder
powder solid matter in minute particles XIII; gunpowder XIV. — (O)F. poudre, earlier pol(d)re :— L. pulvis, pulver- dust.
So vb. (in earliest use, season, salt) XIII. — (O)F. poudrer, or f. the sb. |
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T. F. HOAD. "powder." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "powder." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-powder.html T. F. HOAD. "powder." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-powder.html |
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powder
powder (pow-der) n. (in pharmacy) a medicinal preparation consisting of a mixture of two or more drugs in the form of fine particles.
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"powder." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "powder." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-powder.html "powder." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-powder.html |
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powder
powder n. short for gunpowder.
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"powder." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "powder." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-powder.html "powder." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-powder.html |
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powder
powder •dodder, fodder, plodder, prodder
•Isolde, solder
•absconder, anaconda, Fonda, Golconda, Honda, nonda, ponder, responder, squander, Wanda, wander, yonder
•hot-rodder
•awarder, boarder, border, defrauder, hoarder, Korda, marauder, order, recorder, sordor, warder
•alder, Balder, Calder
•launder, maunder
•sailboarder • skateboarder
•keyboarder • snowboarder
•camcorder • video recorder
•chowder, Gouda, howdah, Lauda, powder
•bounder, compounder, expounder, flounder, founder, grounder, impounder, pounder, propounder, rounder, sounder
•gunpowder
•Clodagh, coda, coder, exploder, loader, Oder, odour (US odor), pagoda, Rhoda, Sargodha, Schroder, soda, vocoder
•beholder, boulder, folder, holder, moulder (US molder), polder, scolder, shoulder, smoulder (US smolder), upholder, withholder
•cardholder • shareholder
•stakeholder
•freeholder, keyholder
•leaseholder • copyholder
•policyholder • stockholder
•smallholder, stallholder
•householder • freeloader
•avoider, embroider
•joinder • Schadenfreude
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Cite this article
"powder." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "powder." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-powder.html "powder." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-powder.html |
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