powder

/ˈpaʊdər/

/ˈpaʊdə/

Other forms: powdered; powders; powdering

Powder is a loose substance made up of extremely tiny, dry, solid grains. Think of the baking powder and cocoa powder you use when you make your famous chocolate layer cake.

Powder is usually made by grinding a hard material until it's the consistency of flour, fine sand, or light snow — in fact, freshly fallen, fluffy snow is often called powder. There's a fine line between a grain and a powder, but generally powders have the characteristic of clumping together, while grains are more loose and separate. When you powder something, you apply powder to it. The Latin root, pulverem, means "dust."

Definitions of powder

1. noun

   a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
   synonyms: pulverisation, pulverization

   type of:

   solid

   matter that is solid at room temperature and pressure
2. noun

   any of various cosmetic or medical preparations dispensed in the form of a pulverized powder
   types:

   Goa powder, araroba, chrysarobin

   a bitter yellow powder used to treat skin diseases

   aspirin powder, headache powder

   a powdered form of aspirin

   baby powder

   powder used to prevent a baby's diaper from chafing

   Dover's powder

   a medicinal powder made essentially of ipecac and opium; formerly used to relieve pain and induce perspiration

   face powder

   cosmetic powder for the face

   bath powder, dusting powder, toilet powder

   a fine powder for spreading on the body (as after bathing)

   talcum, talcum powder

   a toilet powder made of purified talc and usually scented; absorbs excess moisture

   type of:

   medicament, medication, medicinal drug, medicine

   (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease

   toilet articles, toiletry

   artifacts used in making your toilet (washing and taking care of your body)
3. noun

   a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks
   synonyms: gunpowder

   type of:

   explosive

   a chemical substance that undergoes a rapid chemical change (with the production of gas) on being heated or struck
4. verb

   make into a powder by breaking up or cause to become dust
   synonyms: powderise, powderize, pulverise, pulverize

   powderise, powderize, pulverise, pulverize

   become powder or dust

   type of:

   disintegrate

   break into parts or components or lose cohesion or unity
5. verb

   apply powder to
   “She powdered her nose”

   “The King wears a powdered wig”

   types:

   talc

   apply talcum powder to (one's body)

   type of:

   make up

   apply make-up or cosmetics to one's face to appear prettier