Powder

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /paÊŠ.dÉ™(ɹ)/
• Rhymes: -aÊŠdÉ™(ɹ)

Alternative forms

• powdre obsolete

Origin

From Middle English poudre, pouldre, Old French poudre, poldre, puldre, Latin pulvis ("dust, powder"). compare pollen fine flour, mill dust, E. pollen. Compare polverine, pulverize.

Full definition of powder

Noun

1. The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or into which it falls by decay; dust.
• unknown date William Shakespeare:Grind their bones to powder small.
2. An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder.
3. (informal) Light, dry, fluffy snow.

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder.
2. (transitive) To sprinkle with powder, or as with powder.to powder the hair
• unknown date John Milton:A circling zone thou seest
  Powdered with stars.
3. (intransitive) To be reduced to powder; to become like powder.Some salts powder easily.
4. (intransitive) To use powder on the hair or skin.She paints and powders.
5. (transitive) To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat.

Synonyms

• (to reduce to fine particles) pound, grind, comminute, pulverize, triturate