Library / English Dictionary

POWDER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of various cosmetic or medical preparations dispensed in the form of a pulverized powder

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("powder" is a kind 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))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "powder"):

araroba; chrysarobin; Goa powder (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))

Derivation:

powder (apply powder to)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized

Synonyms:

powder; pulverisation; pulverization

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("powder" is a kind of...):

solid (matter that is solid at room temperature and pressure)

Derivation:

powder; powderize (make into a powder by breaking up or cause to become dust)

powdery (consisting of fine particles)

Sense 3

Meaning:

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; powder

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("powder" is a kind of...):

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

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Apply powder to

Example:

The King wears a powdered wig

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "powder" is one way to...):

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

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "powder"):

talc (apply talcum powder to (one's body))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

powder (any of various cosmetic or medical preparations dispensed in the form of a pulverized powder)

powderer (someone who applies or scatters powder)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make into a powder by breaking up or cause to become dust

Example:

pulverize the grains

Synonyms:

powder; powderise; powderize; pulverise; pulverize

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "powder" is one way to...):

disintegrate (break into parts or components or lose cohesion or unity)

Verb group:

powderise; powderize; pulverise; pulverize (become powder or dust)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

powder (a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized)

Credits

 Context examples: 

It is a powder that can be made into a pill or a shiny rock (called a crystal).

(Methamphetamine, NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse)

A powder intended to be dusted over the outer surface of the body.

(Dusting Powder Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

A process that fills a dosage unit using a vacuum to deliver a powder, which is not performed under sterile conditions.

(Non-Sterile Vacuum Powder Filling Method, NCI Thesaurus)

A white, crystalline powder that is very unstable in the presence of light but fairly heat resistant.

(Ochratoxin A, NCI Thesaurus)

Strawberry powder was the best stabilizer, completely preventing melt‐down, followed closely by raspberry.

(Freeze-Dried Strawberries and Ice Cream Make for a Very Stable Relationship, Agricultural Research Service)

A process that fills a dosage unit with a powder by volume using gravity flow, which is not performed under sterile conditions.

(Non-Sterile Volumetric Powder Filling Method, NCI Thesaurus)

An example includes glassine powder paper containing aspirin.

(Packet, NCI Thesaurus)

I will show you, answered Sir Nigel; for here is the great box of powder, and if you will raise it for me, John, I will show you how it may be used.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

One told of his powder, six pounds of which were needed to throw a ball a thousand yards.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Truly, Marmar?" asks Demi, with a brilliant idea in his well-powdered head.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)