POWDER

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does powder mean? 

• POWDER (noun)
  The noun POWDER has 3 senses:

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

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

3. any of various cosmetic or medical preparations dispensed in the form of a pulverized powder

  Familiarity information: POWDER used as a noun is uncommon.

• POWDER (verb)
  The verb POWDER has 2 senses:

1. make into a powder by breaking up or cause to become dust

2. apply powder to

  Familiarity information: POWDER used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• POWDER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

powder; pulverisation; pulverization

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 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

gunpowder; powder

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)

Sense 3

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)

• POWDER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they powder    ... he / she / it powders   
Past simple: powdered   
Past participle: powdered   
-ing form: powdering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

powder; powderise; powderize; pulverise; pulverize

Context example:

pulverize the grains

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Apply powder to

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Context example:

The King wears a powdered wig

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)

 Context examples 

“We're a-changing of the powder, Jack,” answers one.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

BPA is, precisely, that white powder that sticks to your fingers.

(Purchase receipts with easily erasable ink contain cancer- and infertility inducing substances, University of Granada)

In answer to Holmes, they both remembered that they were conscious of the smell of powder from the moment that they ran out of their rooms upon the top floor.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Well, then, I take our powder—or what remains of it—from the envelope, and I lay it above the burning lamp.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

About a week has passed, and I am now finishing this statement under the influence of the last of the old powders.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

A powder intended for administration through the mouth.

(Oral Powder Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

A powder for an oral solution comprised of the hydrochloride salt of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) with a potential application for photodynamic therapy.

(Oral Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

A powder composed of active and/or inert ingredient(s), and a mixture of acids and sodium bicarbonate, which release carbon dioxide when dissolved in water.

(Effervescent Powder Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

An orally bioavailable powder formulation of a synthetic phenylretinamide analogue of retinol with potential chemopreventive and antineoplastic activities.

(Fenretinide Lipid Matrix, NCI Thesaurus)

A powdered form of fenretinide that is being studied in the treatment of neuroblastoma.

(Fenretinide Lipid Matrix, NCI Dictionary)