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Glite Dictionary
powdered milk

powdered milk

3 1.4
Dry milk that you mix with water to make liquid milk
  • noun
  • /ˈpaʊdərd mɪlk/
translation icon : leche en polvo
  • The Red Cross has issued an urgent appeal for baby food, powdered milk, canned and preserved foods, cooking oil, detergents, tents, bedding, oil lamps, and water purification supplies.

Examples

  • Residents go to Cholo's UB to use the phone, to get powdered milk from the Programa Materno-Infantil, or to ask for some antibiotic or pain reliever.

    Academic text (2000)

  • For camping trips, I always pack powdered milk because it is lightweight and easy to store.

  • It's powdered milk for the kids.

    National Lampoon's TV: The Movie (2006)

  • Add some powdered milk at least.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • I need rice, beans, powdered milk, beer and your best whiskey.

    Hotel Rwanda (2004)

  • Aunt Miriam served us powdered milk.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Distribution of powdered milk is now reserved exclusively for sick children on medical prescription.

    Academic text (1991)

  • We'll use powdered milk.

    Testament (1983)

  • The custom of drinking fresh cow's milk gave way to reliance on imported powdered milk, which was less expensive and had a much longer shelf life.

    Academic text (1997)

  • To make the recipe, you need to mix water with powdered milk to create a creamy base.

Synonyms

milk powder
vspowdered milk
1 1.8

A dry powder made from milk that you add to water to make milk

is the same product intended as a fresh dairy substitute
dry milk
vspowdered milk
1 2.4

Powdered milk you get by removing water from milk so it lasts a long time

is the product sold dry to be reconstituted with water
dried milk
vspowdered milk
1 1.1

Milk with the water removed and left as a powder for storage

is the preserved product used after adding water
nonfat dry milk
vspowdered milk
2.3

Powder made from milk with no fat that you mix with water

is the general dry form that may contain fat unless skimmed

Antonyms

milk
∞ 1.0

A white liquid from female animals or plants used for food

How Dry

powdered milk
3 1.4

Surface Forms

powdered milk singular
powdered milks plural

Morphology

powdered + milk

The meaning 'milk with the water removed, in dry powder form' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'powdered' (made into fine dry particles) with 'milk' (the liquid). This adjective+noun composition is a common, literal product-naming pattern found across many languages (e.g., Spanish 'leche en polvo', French 'lait en poudre'), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The noun powdered milk is a literal name: it is milk with the water removed until it becomes a dry powder, so it can be kept for a long time and later 'made again' by adding water.