powder

Word family

Related topics: Daily life, Meteorology

pow·der1 /ˈpaʊdə $ -ər/ noun

1 [countableC, uncountableU]D a dry substance in the form of very small grains 粉，粉末

curry powder

咖喱粉

talcum powder

滑石[爽身]粉

Grind the sugar into a powder.

把糖碾成粉末。

The paint is supplied in powder form.

这种涂料以粉末状供应。

milk/custard etc powder (=a powder that you add water to in order to change it into a liquid) 奶粉/吉士粉等

2. [uncountableU] (also face powder) a type of powder that you put on your face in order to make it look smoother and to give it more colour 扑面粉 →5 see picture at 见图 make-up

3 a powder keg SERIOUS SITUATIONa dangerous situation or place where violence or trouble could suddenly start 火药桶〔比喻暴力或麻烦随时可能发生的危险局面或地方〕

Since the riot, the city has been a powder keg waiting to explode.

自那次骚乱以来，这座城市就是一个随时可能爆炸的火药桶。

Examples from the Corpus

a powder keg• Ireland - home, as Joseph called it - had been a powder keg since the Easter Rising three years ago.• The place was a powder keg.

4 [uncountableU] (also powder snow)HEM dry light snow 干雪，粉状雪

There’s a foot of powder on the slopes.

斜坡上积有一英尺厚的干雪。

5. [uncountableU] gunpowder 火药，炸药

6. keep your powder dry to wait calmly until you see how a situation develops before deciding what to do 静观其变再相机行事，按兵不动但随时准备出击

Examples from the Corpus

powder• She spooned coffee powder into it and filled it up with water from the kettle.• Scuffling feet kick up a fine powder that covers the children and everything else.• That report showed there were more suspects arrested in 1999 on charges involving marijuana than for powder or crack cocaine.• These days, nobody cared what high-grade powder he put up his nose, whom he spent the night with.• John Denver was adept at metal work and could earn £2: 7s.: 6d. for making powder cans.• In its wake, savoring powder, perfume, lotion and dew from the love-making gone before.• Next, a long tapering round metal pricker was inserted so that its point penetrated a short distance into the powder.• I carved my first wide turn through virgin powder, experiencing a transcendence of Buddhist proportions.

milk/custard etc powder• Mix the flour and milk powder together with a little water to make a thin paste.• Breakfast is tea and muesli, the muesli made with hot water and milk powder.• Add salt and nonfat dry milk powder, whisking rapidly until milk granules are dissolved into a smooth sauce.• In medium bowl, combine cup butter, milk, custard powder and confectioners' sugar.• Combine oats, milk powder and baking powder together.• Pritchitt's distribution manager Robert Hamilton sees off the consignment of milk powder bound for Bosnia.• The blaze gutted a spray drying area of the factory used for processing skimmed milk powder.• But the milk powder was ruined, and so, too, were many of the packets of dried soup and flavourings.

Related topics: Hair & beauty

powder2 verb

1 [transitiveT]DCB to put powder on something, especially your skin 给〔某物，尤指皮肤〕涂粉

She was powdering her face.

她在往脸上搽粉。

2 powder your nose DCBan expression meaning to go to the toilet, used by women to avoid saying this directly 补妆〔女士上厕所的委婉说法〕

She’s just gone to powder her nose.

她刚去补妆了。

Examples from the Corpus

powder your nose• You get the drinks in - I'll just go and powder my nose.• After the main course Vanessa disappeared to powder her nose.• One way or another, I had drunk quite a bit this evening, but I didn't need to powder my nose.

Examples from the Corpus

powder• Examples are fine sand, powdered clay and ash.• She sat up, and, taking out her compact, powdered her face lightly and combed her hair.• At each place was a bowl made from a can that had one contained powdered milk.• She is eating a donut, and the powdered sugar makes more spots on her dress.• Sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top.• Others reeked of herbs or were powdered with flour.• The makeup man rushed forward to powder Zack's face.

powdering ... face• Montreal was powdering its face and putting on lipstick while infrastructure was going to pot.

Origin powder1

(1200-1300) Old French poudre, from Latin pulvis “dust”

pow·der1 nounpowder2 verb

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus