powder 1
— powderer , n.
/pow"deuhr/ , n.
1. any solid substance reduced to a state of fine, loose particles by crushing, grinding, disintegration, etc.
2. a preparation in this form, as gunpowder or face powder.
3. Also, powder snow . Skiing. loose, usually fresh snow that is not granular, wet, or packed.
v.t.
4. to reduce to powder; pulverize.
5. to sprinkle or cover with powder: She powdered the cookies with confectioners' sugar.
6. to apply powder to (the face, skin, etc.) as a cosmetic.
7. to sprinkle or strew as if with powder: A light snowfall powdered the landscape.
8. to ornament in this fashion, as with small objects scattered over a surface: a dress lightly powdered with sequins.
v.i.
9. to use powder as a cosmetic.
10. to become pulverized.
[ 1250-1300; (n.) ME poudre pulver- (s. of pulvis ) dust, powder; akin to POLLEN; (v.) ME poudren poudrer, deriv. of poudre ]
powder 2
/pow"deuhr/ , v.i.
1. Brit. Dial. to rush.
n.
2. Brit. Dial. a sudden, frantic, or impulsive rush.
3. take a powder , Slang. to leave in a hurry; depart without taking leave, as to avoid something unpleasant: He took a powder and left his mother to worry about his gambling debts.
Also, take a runout powder .
[ 1625-35; orig. uncert. ]