pow·der / ˈpoudər/ • n. fine dry particles produced by the grinding, crushing, or disintegration of a solid substance: when the powder is mixed with water, it becomes a creamy white paste cocoa powder | [in sing.] crush the poppy seeds to a powder. ∎  (also face powder) a cosmetic in this form designed to be applied to a person's face with a brush or soft pad. ∎  dated a medicine or drug in this form, usually designed to be dissolved in a liquid. ∎  (also powder snow) light, dry, newly fallen snow: [as adj.] powder skiing. ∎ short for gunpowder (sense 1).• v. [tr.] 1. apply powder to (the face or body): she powdered her face and put on a dab of perfume. ∎  sprinkle or cover (a surface) with powder or a powdery substance: broken glass powdered the floor | fig. high cheekbones powdered with freckles. 2. reduce (a substance) to a powder by drying or crushing it: then the rose petals are dried and powdered | [as adj.] (powdered) powdered milk. PHRASES: keep one's powder dry remain cautious and ready for a possible emergency.take a powder inf. depart quickly, esp. in order to avoid a difficult situation.

Powder ★★ 1995 (PG-13)

An electromagnetic albino with an I.Q. off the charts is discovered living in his grandparents' cellar and brought to live in a school for troubled teens. Despite harrassment from the crude locals, Powder (Flanery) manages to exude compassion and electricity all over the place with the help of sensitive school director Steenbergen and wacky science teacher Goldblum. Hypersentimentality, convoluted and contradictory writing, absurd messianic overtones, and a copout climax barely scratch the surface of film's problems. Revelations of Salva's criminal conviction for child molestation cast some scenes in a disturbing light and caused major headaches for Disney's publicity department. 111m/C VHS, DVD . Sean Patrick Flanery, Mary Steenburgen, Lance Henriksen, Jeff Goldblum, Brandon Smith, Bradford Tatum, Susan Tyrrell, Missy (Melissa) Crider, Ray Wise, Esteban Louis Powell; D: Victor Salva; W: Victor Salva; C: Jerzy Zielinski; M: Jerry Goldsmith.

powder solid matter in minute particles XIII; gunpowder XIV. — (O)F. poudre, earlier pol(d)re :— L. pulvis, pulver- dust.
So vb. (in earliest use, season, salt) XIII. — (O)F. poudrer, or f. the sb.

powder (pow-der) n. (in pharmacy) a medicinal preparation consisting of a mixture of two or more drugs in the form of fine particles.