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Powder
Definitions
- 1 A surname.
- 2 Acronym of Protocol for Web Description Resources. Internet, abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
- 1 The fine particles which are the result of reducing a dry substance by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or the result of decay; dust. countable, uncountable
"Let me goe grin'd their Bones to powder ſmall, […]"
- 2 any of various cosmetic or medical preparations dispensed in the form of a pulverized powder wordnet
- 3 A mixture of fine dry, sweet-smelling particles applied to the face or other body parts, to reduce shine or to alleviate chaffing. countable, uncountable
"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."
- 4 a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized wordnet
- 5 An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder. countable, uncountable
"Tut, tut, good enough to toſſe: foode for Powder, foode for Powder: they'll fill a Pit, as well as better: tuſh man, mortall men, mortall men."
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- 6 a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks wordnet
- 7 Ellipsis of powder snow; light, dry, fluffy snow. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, informal, uncountable
- 8 Ellipsis of powder blue, a color. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
- 1 To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder. transitive
"25 October 2016, Bettina Elias Siegel writing in New York Times, Should the Food Industry Sneak Vegetables Into Food? In desperation, they dried fruits and vegetables in an old food dehydrator they had, then used their coffee grinder to powder the produce..."
- 2 apply powder to wordnet
- 3 To sprinkle with powder, or as if with powder. transitive
"to powder one's hair"
- 4 make into a powder by breaking up or cause to become dust wordnet
- 5 To use powder on the hair or skin. intransitive
"1778-1787, Frances Burney, The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay If she is grave, and reads steadily on, she dismisses me, whether I am dressed or not; but at all times she never forgets to send me away while she is powdering, with a consideration not to spoil my clothes"
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- 6 To turn into powder; to become powdery. intransitive
"Ample evidence is brought forward to show that the higher incidence of chronic interstitial nephritis in Queensland is due to lead paint on the verandahs and railings of the houses, which powders easily during the long Australian summer."
- 7 To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat. obsolete, transitive
- 8 To depart suddenly; to "take a powder". intransitive, slang
"Miss Gibson appeared in the empty hall, her eyes wide and shocked. The little man who had started all the trouble with his singing telegram had powdered."
Etymology
From Middle English poudre, pouder, pouldre, borrowed from Old French poudre, poldre, puldre, from Latin pulverem, accusative singular of Latin pulvis (“dust, powder”). Doublet of pulver. Compare pollen (“fine flour”), polverine, pulverize.
From Middle English poudre, pouder, pouldre, borrowed from Old French poudre, poldre, puldre, from Latin pulverem, accusative singular of Latin pulvis (“dust, powder”). Doublet of pulver. Compare pollen (“fine flour”), polverine, pulverize.
See also for "powder"
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