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powder

noun · verb

Simple meaning

The fine particles which are the result of reducing a dry substance by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or the result of decay.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

powder

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US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈpaʊdɚ

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. The fine particles which are the result of reducing a dry substance by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or the result of decay; dust.

  2. cosmetics

    A mixture of fine dry, sweet-smelling particles applied to the face or other body parts, to reduce shine or to alleviate chaffing.

  3. An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder.

  4. A very pale blue colour.

  5. informal

    Freshly fallen, uncompacted snow, especially in the context of Alpine skiing

verb

  1. transitive

    To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder.

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

  3. Apply powder to

  4. transitive

    To sprinkle with powder, or as if with powder.

  5. intransitive

    To turn into powder; to become powdery.

  6. intransitive

    To use powder on the hair or skin.

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
A2 · Elementary (estimated)
Frequency
Common
Typical Use
General English

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: The fine particles which are the result of reducing a dry substance by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or the result of decay; dust.

Used this way, powder is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Matter-of-fact
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use powder

  • “She used some face powder to finish her makeup before going out.”

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Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

Fine / mixture

dry powdergarlic powder

Other combinations

baking powdermilk powdercurry powderpowder riverchili powderpowder magazine

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • powder bluenounCompound term

    A pale blue color with grey in it.

  • powder compactnounCompound term

    A small cosmetics case with a mirror.

  • powder flasknounCompound term

    Container for carrying gunpowder.

  • powder hornnounCompound term

    Container for carrying gunpowder.

  • powder kegnounCompound term

    A potentially explosive state.

  • powder magazinenounCompound term

    A storehouse (as a compartment on a warship) where weapons and ammunition are stored.

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.