powder

POW-dur/ˈpaʊ.dɚ/UKPOW-duh/ˈpaʊ.də(ɹ)/

Pluralpowders

Verbpowders, powdering, powdered

11 meanings of powder

Practice

1
nouncountable or uncountable
Tiny dry bits made by crushing something solid, or left behind as dust.
Like the fine dust left when you crush a cracker in your hand.
The chalk crumbled into fine powder on the floor.
She mixed the powder with water to make a smooth paste.
Similardust
Note
2
noununcountable
A soft, dry, sweet-smelling mix that people put on their skin to stop shine or rubbing.
Like a thin layer of flour that soaks up the wet shine on your skin.
She dabbed some powder on her nose to stop the shine.
He patted powder under his arms before the long hike.
Similartalc
Note
3
noununcountable
A black or gray explosive used in guns and for blasting rock.
Like sand that bursts into flame and pushes very hard all at once.
The cannon needed fresh powder before it could fire again.
A single spark near the powder could set off an explosion.
Similargunpowder
Note
4
verbtransitive
To crush something dry into tiny bits.
Like crushing a cookie until it turns to crumbs.
Grind the dried beans and powder them in a mortar.
The old mill can powder grain into flour within minutes.
Similarpulverize, grind, crush, pound, mill
5
verbtransitive
To cover something lightly with powder or a powder-like layer.
Like shaking a little flour over the top of a cake.
She powdered the warm cake with sugar.
Powder the baking pan with flour before pouring in the batter.
Similardust, sprinkle, coat
Note
6
verbintransitive
To put powder on your own hair or skin.
Like putting on sunscreen before going outside, but with powder.
She likes to powder before going out for the evening.
In earlier times, men powdered before every grand ball.
Note
7
nouncolloquialuncountableabbreviationellipsis
Short for powder snow. It means light, dry, fluffy snow.
The skiers rushed out to enjoy fresh powder after the storm.
Deep powder made the morning run feel soft and slow.
Note
8
verbintransitive
To break down into tiny dry bits.
Like a dry sandcastle that crumbles into sand when you touch it.
The old plaster began to powder and flake off the wall.
Dry leaves powder easily under your feet.
Similarcrumble, disintegrate
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9
nouncountable or uncountableabbreviationellipsis
Short for powder blue. It means a soft, pale blue color.
The baby blanket comes in pink, white, or powder.
She chose the shirt in powder instead of navy.
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10
verbslangintransitive
To leave suddenly and quickly.
Like slipping out of a room before anyone can ask you a question.
When the police showed up, he decided to powder fast.
She powdered before anyone noticed she was gone.
Similarbolt, flee, split, scram, skedaddle
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Less common meaning

11
verbobsoletetransitive
To rub or sprinkle meat with salt to keep it from going bad.
Like covering fish in salt so it stays good for a long time.
The cook would powder the beef before the long voyage.
They powdered the pork to keep it through the winter.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin pulvis, meaning "dust" or "powder," which came into English through Old French poudre.