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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Powder


POW'DER, noun [Latin pulvis.]

1. Any dry substance composed of minute particles, whether natural or artificial; more generally, a substance comminuted or triturated to fine particles. Thus dust is the powder of earth; flour is the powder of grain. But the word is particularly applied to substances reduced to fine particles for medicinal purposes.

2. A composition of saltpeter, sulphur and charcoal, mixed and granulated; gun-powder.

3. Hair powder; pulverized starch.

POW'DER, verb transitive To reduce to fine particles; to comminute; to pulverize; to triturate; to pound, grind or rub into fine particles.

1. To sprinkle with powder; as, to powder the hair.

2. To sprinkle with salt; to corn; as meat.

POW'DER, verb intransitive To come violently. [Not in use.]