- [uncountable, countable] a dry mass of very small fine pieces or grains
- chilli/cocoa powder
- lumps of chalk crushed to a fine white powder
- The snow was like powder.
- a wide range of cleaning fluids and powders
- The mustard is sold in powder form.
- powder skiing (= on fine dry snow)
Extra ExamplesTopics Weatherb1- Before the photo dries, the image is dusted with a special powder.
- The seeds are ground into a fine powder before use.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- fine
- chilli/chili
- cocoa
- …
- grind something into
- dust something with
- sprinkle on
- …
- snow
- in powder form
Definitions on the go
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- [uncountable] a very fine, soft, dry substance that you can put on your face to make it look smooth and dry
- I only use lipstick and a little powder.
- She quickly dabbed some powder on her cheeks.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- fine
- chilli/chili
- cocoa
- …
- grind something into
- dust something with
- sprinkle on
- …
- snow
- in powder form
- (also gunpowder)[uncountable] explosive powder used especially in bombs or fireworks
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French poudre, from Latin pulvis, pulver- ‘dust’.
Idioms
See powder in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee powder in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishkeep your powder dry
- (old-fashioned) to remain ready for a possible emergency
take a powder
- (North American English, informal) to leave suddenly; to run away
Check pronunciation:
powder