Powder

5 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Powder \Pow"der\, n. [OE. poudre, pouldre, F. poudre, OF. also
     poldre, puldre, L. pulvis, pulveris: cf. pollen fine flour,
     mill dust, E. pollen. Cf. {Polverine}, {Pulverize}.]
     1. The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced
        by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or into which it
        falls by decay; dust.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              Grind their bones to powder small.    --Shak.
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     2. An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.;
        gunpowder. See {Gunpowder}.
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     {Atlas powder}, {Baking powder}, etc. See under {Atlas},
        {Baking}, etc.
  
     {Powder down} (Zool.), the peculiar dust, or exfoliation, of
        powder-down feathers.
  
     {Powder-down feather} (Zool.), one of a peculiar kind of
        modified feathers which sometimes form patches on certain
        parts of some birds. They have a greasy texture and a
        scaly exfoliation.
  
     {Powder-down patch} (Zool.), a tuft or patch of powder-down
        feathers.
  
     {Powder hose}, a tube of strong linen, about an inch in
        diameter, filled with powder and used in firing mines.
        --Farrow.
  
     {Powder hoy} (Naut.), a vessel specially fitted to carry
        powder for the supply of war ships. They are usually
        painted red and carry a red flag.
  
     {Powder magazine}, or {Powder room}. See {Magazine}, 2.
  
     {Powder mine}, a mine exploded by gunpowder. See {Mine}.
  
     {Powder monkey} (Naut.), a boy formerly employed on war
        vessels to carry powder; a powder boy.
  
     {Powder post}. See {Dry rot}, under {Dry}.
  
     {Powder puff}. See {Puff}, n.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Powder \Pow"der\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Powdered}; p. pr. & vb.
     n. {Powdering}.] [F. poudrer.]
     1. To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into
        a powder; to comminute; to pulverize; to triturate.
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     2. To sprinkle with powder, or as with powder; to be
        sprinkle; as, to powder the hair.
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              A circling zone thou seest
              Powdered with stars.                  --Milton.
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     3. To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat. [Obs.]
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Powder \Pow"der\, v. i.
     1. To be reduced to powder; to become like powder; as, some
        salts powder easily.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To use powder on the hair or skin; as, she paints and
        powders.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  powder
       n 1: a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a
            solid that has been pulverized [syn: {pulverization}, {pulverisation}]
       2: a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a
          75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and
          fireworks [syn: {gunpowder}]
       3: any of various cosmetic or medical preparations dispensed in
          the form of a powder
       v 1: apply powder to; "She powdered her nose"; "The King wears a
            powdered wig"
       2: make into a powder by breaking up or cause to become dust;
          "pulverize the grains" [syn: {powderize}, {powderise}, {pulverize},
           {pulverise}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  168 Moby Thesaurus words for "powder":
     Ballistite, TNT, abrade, abscond, absquatulate, air pollution,
     atomize, attritus, balm, balsam, base, beat, besprinkle, bran,
     bray, bread, break up, brecciate, buck, cellulose nitrate,
     clown white, coat, cold cream, come to dust, comminute, compact,
     contriturate, cordite, cosmetics, cosmic dust, cover, crumb,
     crumble, crumble into dust, crumble to dust, crush, decamp,
     disappear, disintegrate, dog it, dot, dredge, drops, drug,
     drugstore complexion, dust, dust ball, dynamite, effloresce,
     efflorescence, electuary, elixir, escape, ethical drug, explosive,
     eye shadow, eyebrow pencil, fall to dust, fall to pieces, fallout,
     farina, filings, flour, foundation, foundation cream, fragment,
     generic name, grain, granulate, granulize, grate, greasepaint,
     grind, grind to powder, grits, groats, gunpowder, hand cream,
     hand lotion, herbs, high explosive, inhalant, kittens, lam,
     levigate, lincture, linctus, lint, lip rouge, lipstick, make off,
     makeup, mascara, mash, materia medica, meal, medicament,
     medication, medicinal, medicinal herbs, medicine, melinite, mill,
     mixture, mudpack, nail polish, nitrocotton, nitroglycerin,
     nonprescription drug, officinal, paint, patent medicine, pepper,
     pestle, pharmacon, physic, plastic explosive, pound, powder puff,
     preparation, prescription drug, proprietary, proprietary medicine,
     proprietary name, puff, pulverize, pussies, raspings,
     reduce to powder, rouge, run away, sawdust, scrunch, shard, shred,
     simples, skedaddle, skip, skip out, smash, smokeless powder, smut,
     soot, spatter, speck, speckle, splatter, split, spot, sprinkle,
     squash, stud, syrup, take a powder, take off, talc, talcum,
     talcum powder, theraputant, tisane, trinitrotoluol, triturate,
     vanish, vanishing cream, vanity case, vegetable remedies,
     villanous saltpetre, war paint