Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Powder
Pow′der
,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.
Grind their bones to
powder
small. Shakespeare
2.
An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder. See
Gunpowder
. Atlas powder
, Baking powder
Powder down
(Zool.)
, the peculiar dust, or exfoliation, of powder-down feathers.
– Powder-down feather
(Zool.)
, one of a peculiar kind of modified feathers which sometimes form patches on certain parts of some birds. They have a greasy texture and a scaly exfoliation.
– Powder-down patch
(Zool.)
, a tuft or patch of powder-down feathers.
– Powder hose
, a tube of strong linen, about an inch in diameter, filled with powder and used in firing mines.
Farrow.
– Powder hoy
(Naut.)
, a vessel specially fitted to carry powder for the supply of war ships. They are usually painted red and carry a red flag.
– Powder magazine
, or Powder room
See
– Magazine
, 2. Powder mine
, a mine exploded by gunpowder. See
– Mine
. Powder monkey
(Naut.)
, a boy formerly employed on war vessels to carry powder; a powder boy.
– Powder post
. See
– Dry rot
, under Dry
. Powder puff
. See
Puff
, Noun.
Pow′der
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Powdered
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Powdering
.] [F.
poudrer
.] 1.
To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder; to comminute; to pulverize; to triturate.
2.
To sprinkle with powder, or as with powder; to be sprinkle;
as, to
. powder
the hairA circling zone thou seest
Powdered
with stars. Milton.
3.
To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat.
[Obs.]
Pow′der
,Verb.
I.
1.
To be reduced to powder; to become like powder;
as, some salts
. powder
easily2.
To use powder on the hair or skin;
as, she paints and
. powders
Webster 1828 Edition
Powder
POW'DER
,Noun.
1.
Any dry substance composed of minute particles, whether natural or artificial; more generally, a substance comminuted or triturated to fine particles. Thus dust is the powder of earth; flour is the powder of grain. But the word is particularly applied to substances reduced to fine particles for medicinal purposes.2.
A composition of saltpeter, sulphur and charcoal, mixed and granulated; gun-powder.3.
Hair powder; pulverized starch.POW'DER
,Verb.
T.
1.
To sprinkle with powder; as, to powder the hair.2.
To sprinkle with salt; to corn; as meat.POW'DER
,Verb.
I.
Definition 2024
powder
powder
English
Alternative forms
- powdre (obsolete)
Noun
powder (countable and uncountable, plural powders)
- The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or into which it falls by decay; dust.
- (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare:
- Grind their bones to powder small.
- (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare:
- (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.
- 1912, Willa Cather, The Bohemian Girl:
- An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder.
- (informal) Light, dry, fluffy snow.
Derived terms
Terms derived from powder (noun)
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Translations
fine particles of any dry substance
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cosmetic product
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gunpowder — see gunpowder
type of snow
Verb
powder (third-person singular simple present powders, present participle powdering, simple past and past participle powdered)
- (transitive) To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder.
- (transitive) To sprinkle with powder, or as with powder.
- to powder the hair
- (Can we date this quote?) John Milton:
- A circling zone thou seest / Powdered with stars.
- (intransitive) To use powder on the hair or skin.
- She paints and powders.
- (intransitive) To be reduced to powder; to become like powder.
- Some salts powder easily.
- (transitive) To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat.
Synonyms
Translations
to reduce to fine particles
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to sprinkle with powder
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to use powder on the hair or skin
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to be reduced to powder
