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pow·der (poudər)
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n.
1. A substance consisting of ground, pulverized, or otherwise finely dispersed solid particles.
2. Any of various preparations in the form of powder, as certain cosmetics and medicines.
3. A dry explosive mixture, such as gunpowder.
4. Light dry snow.
tr.v. pow·dered, pow·der·ing, pow·ders
1. To turn into or produce as a powder: tea that is powdered.
2. To put powder on: powdered the cake with sugar.
3. To strew or ornament with small objects or flecks: The stars powdered the sky.
Idioms:
keep (one's) powder dry
To be ready for a challenge with little warning.
take a powder
To make a quick departure; run away.
[Middle English poudre, from Old French, from Latin pulvis, pulver-.]
powder·er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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