powder
67
7.5
- noun
- /ˈpaʊdər/
- Specialized
:
pólvora
- Soldiers carried paper cartridges containing both powder and a lead ball.
- black powder
- smokeless powder
- a powder keg
Soldiers carried paper cartridges containing both powder and a lead ball.
- Soldiers carried paper cartridges containing both powder and a lead ball.
- In Civil war times, after gown powder battles, rain was very likely to happen.
- And they built these powder mills that would then grind the ingredients for gunpowder.
Examples
-
The mystery is in the black powder.
-
Ah, don't waste your powder, not at this distance.
-
Take the powder... and put it in the gun.
-
Check the powder before you do-- fire!
-
Each arrow has a small charge of black powder attached to it.
Fiction book (1992) -
But he could not hide the black-powder smoke that rose every time he fired.
Fiction book (1992) -
We're gonna need cannonball, powder and fuses.
-
The gun captain then added powder from his powder horn to the vent and priming pan.
-
And they built these powder mills that would then grind the ingredients for gunpowder.
-
To prepare the cannon, the crew carefully loaded the powder into the firing chamber.
Synonyms
51
3.2
A fine powder that burns quickly and makes explosions for guns and fireworks
15
6.7
An old type of gunpowder used in guns and fireworks
Idioms
Compounds
- US
8
1.7
A powder made from ground chili peppers and a few spices to add heat and flavor to food
- Literature
8
7.5
A place or situation that is very tense and could suddenly become violent
1
3.2
A ground Chinese spice mix made from star anise, fennel, pepper, cloves and cinnamon
A fine scented powder you put on the skin after bathing to soak up moisture and prevent irritation
A powder form of aspirin that dissolves quickly in water so it works faster and is easier to swallow
A small fluffy bread that uses baking powder and people often eat for breakfast or as a side
- Specialized
A method that uses X-rays on a powder to identify a mineral or crystal
- Specialized
Wood damage caused by small beetles that leave fine dust and make it weak
- Specialized
A small insect that bores into dry wood in houses and leaves powdery dust
- Specialized
A way of making solid metal parts by pressing and heating metal powder without melting
- Specialized
A method for finding what a mineral or crystal is by using X-rays on a crushed sample
- Archaic
A method for identifying minerals by using X-rays on a small powdered sample to make a pattern
- Archaic
A fine powder people put on their skin after bathing to feel dry and smell nice
Surface Forms
Etymology
Powder was used for the explosive called gunpowder because the mixture looks and behaves like very small, dust-like grains; the name comes from Old French poudre and Latin pulvis meaning 'dust'. That's why this explosive is called a powder: it burns and spreads like 'dust' to make a fast reaction.