powder
Powder (noun) means a dry substance made of fine loose particles. Example: “She dusted the cake with icing powder.”
How to Use Powder
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fine, dry, loose substance, or the act of covering something with it.
Word Forms
powdered past tense, Powders plural, powders singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She dusted the cake with icing _____.
Etymology
From Old French poudre, from Latin pulvis, "dust" — a doublet of the word "pulverize".
Related Words
Rhymes for powder
See all rhymes for powder →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “powder” mean?
The word “powder” means a dry substance made of fine loose particles. In plain terms, a fine, dry, loose substance, or the act of covering something with it.
How do you pronounce “powder”?
“Powder” is pronounced POW-duh (/ˈpaʊ.dɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “powder” in a sentence?
Here is “powder” used in a sentence: “She dusted the cake with icing powder.”
What part of speech is “powder”?
Depending on how it is used, “powder” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “powder” come from?
The word “powder” comes from Latin. From Old French poudre, from Latin pulvis, "dust" — a doublet of the word "pulverize".
Is “powder” a common word?
“Powder” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “powder” have?
“Powder” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dry substance made of fine loose particles.
What is the difference between powder and dust?
Powder is a dry substance made of fine loose particles, often produced deliberately, such as flour or talcum powder. Dust usually refers to fine particles that gather unintentionally, such as household dust, so powder is typically made while dust accumulates.
What is the difference between "powder" and "grind" as verbs?
To "powder" means to reduce something to a fine powder or to sprinkle it with powder. To "grind" is the crushing or milling action that often produces the powder, so you grind coffee beans in order to powder them.
What are common things called "powder"?
Common examples include baking powder, talcum powder, baby powder, gunpowder, and washing powder, all of which are fine, dry, loose substances. In cooking and cosmetics the word often names the specific product.