Powder

powder
    n 1: a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a
         solid that has been pulverized [syn: {powder},
         {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}, {powder}]
    3: any of various cosmetic or medical preparations dispensed in
       the form of a pulverized powder
    v 1: make into a powder by breaking up or cause to become dust;
         "pulverize the grains" [syn: {powderize}, {powderise},
         {powder}, {pulverize}, {pulverise}]
    2: apply powder to; "She powdered her nose"; "The King wears a
       powdered wig"
    

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