powder
gb/pˈaʊdɚ/ us/pˈaʊdɚ/
A2
English
~ 5200
por, púder, porhó, lőpor, beszór, megszór, bepúderez
NOUN
A2
1
por
A2
Usage pattern:
some [type of] powder; [powder] in/into [container]
She mixes the protein powder with water after her workout.
Edzés után vízzel keveri össze a fehérjeport.
Add a teaspoon of chili powder to give the soup more flavor.
Adj a leveshez egy teáskanál chiliport, hogy ízesebb legyen.
The pharmacist gave him an antibiotic powder to dissolve in water.
There was a fine white powder all over the kitchen counter.
The paint comes as a powder that you mix with water before using.
Learner examples
He puts washing powder in the machine.
Mosóport tesz a mosógépbe.
I bought milk powder for the trip.
Tejport vettem az útra.
There is cocoa powder on the cake.
She saw white powder on the floor.
The doctor gave me a small powder for my cold.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "powder" and "dust". Use "powder" for products like flour, spices, and detergent, and "dust" mainly for dirt that collects on surfaces. Also, we usually say "some powder" or "a little powder", not "many powders" for one type.
Meaning
dry substance in fine grains
Collocations
washing powder
|protein powder
|baking powder
|chili powder
|milk powder
|in powder form
Synonyms
dust (Also very fine dry particles, but often suggests dirt or unwanted material.)
|
powdered substance (More explicit and formal; emphasizes the form rather than naming the material.)
|
granules (Refers to somewhat larger, more grain-like particles than typical powder.)
Antonyms
liquid (Opposite physical form: a flowing substance instead of dry particles.)
|
solid block (Opposite form: a single piece instead of many loose grains.)
Themes
daily life
|food
|science
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
A dry material in very small pieces, like flour, spice, or washing soap.
A dry solid material made up of many very small loose particles, such as flour, spices, detergent, or medicine.
NOUN
B1
2
púder
B1
Usage pattern:
face/setting [powder]; apply [powder] to [face]
She dabbed a little powder on her nose to reduce the shine.
Egy kis púdert tett az orrára, hogy ne csillogjon annyira.
I always finish my makeup with a light setting powder.
A sminkemet mindig egy könnyű fixáló púderrel fejezem be.
He bought a compact powder that fits easily in his bag.
The makeup artist chose a translucent powder for her oily skin.
Your face powder is too light; it makes you look pale.
Learner examples
She uses face powder every morning.
Minden reggel arcpúdert használ.
I put some powder on my face before the party.
A buli előtt tettem egy kis púdert az arcomra.
This powder makes my skin feel soft.
She carries powder in her bag.
The powder on his face is the wrong color.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "make a powder" when they mean "put on powder". Use verbs like "wear", "use", or "put on" with makeup: "She puts on powder", not "She makes powder on her face."
Meaning
cosmetic face powder
Collocations
face powder
|loose powder
|setting powder
|compact powder
|translucent powder
|pressed powder
Synonyms
makeup (A more general word for all cosmetics, not specifically powder.)
|
foundation (A base facial cosmetic that may be liquid, cream, or powder; not always the same as face powder.)
Antonyms
bare face (Refers to a face without any makeup, the opposite of one with powder applied.)
Themes
daily life
|appearance
|fashion
|clothing
|daily_life
Definition
A kind of makeup in dry form that you put on your face to make the skin look smoother or less shiny.
A cosmetic product in fine powder form that is applied to the face to reduce shine, fix makeup, or add color.
B2
3
porhó
B2
Usage pattern:
fresh [powder]; ski/ride [powder]
The resort got thirty centimeters of fresh powder overnight.
Éjszaka harminc centiméter friss porhó esett a síterepen.
Skiers rushed to the mountain early to enjoy the deep powder.
A síelők kora reggel a hegyre siettek, hogy a mély porhóban síelhessenek.
Riding through untouched powder feels like floating.
Boarders love powder because it is soft when you fall.
By noon the powder was tracked out and bumpy.
Learner examples
There is fresh powder on the mountain today.
Ma friss porhó van a hegyen.
Skiers like light powder on the snow.
A síelők szeretik, ha könnyű porhó van a pályán.
We woke up to deep powder after the storm.
They ride their snowboards in the powder.
The powder makes the ski run feel soft.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "powder" here is a verb. In skiing contexts, "powder" usually refers to a type of snow, used as a noun: "The powder is great today," not "We powder today."
Meaning
fresh light dry snow
Collocations
fresh powder
|powder snow
|deep powder
|ride the powder
|perfect powder conditions
Synonyms
powder snow (A more explicit phrase; same meaning but slightly more descriptive.)
|
fresh snow (General for newly fallen snow; does not always imply the very light, dry quality of powder.)
Antonyms
ice (A hard, slippery surface on slopes, the opposite of soft powder for skiing.)
|
slush (Wet, heavy snow, the opposite of light, dry powder.)
Themes
weather
|sports
|travel
Definition
New snow that is very light and dry, good for skiing.
Very light, dry, freshly fallen snow that is soft and easy to ski or snowboard through.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
4
lőpor
B2
Usage pattern:
[type of] powder for [weapon/firework]
Investigators found traces of powder on his hands.
A nyomozók lőpornyomokat találtak a kezén.
The old rifle still smelled of powder after being fired.
A régi puskának a lövés után még mindig lőporszaga volt.
They carefully measured the powder before loading the ammunition.
Moisture can ruin the powder and make the bullets misfire.
The fireworks factory stored large amounts of explosive powder.
Learner examples
There was gun powder on the table after the shot.
A lövés után lőpor volt az asztalon.
They put too much powder in the bullet.
Túl sok lőport tettek a tölténybe.
The rain made the powder wet and useless.
The police found powder inside the gun.
He works in a factory that makes explosive powder.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this is the same as normal "dust" or household powder. In this sense, "powder" specifically refers to an explosive material used in guns or fireworks.
Meaning
explosive powder for guns
Collocations
gun powder
|black powder
|smokeless powder
|powder charge
|a trace of powder residue
Synonyms
gunpowder (The standard term for the classic explosive powder used in guns and fireworks.)
|
propellant (Technical term for a substance that drives a bullet or rocket; not always in powder form.)
Antonyms
inert material (A substance that does not react or explode, opposite of explosive powder.)
Themes
weapons
|science
|technology
Definition
A dry explosive material in small grains that makes guns or fireworks shoot.
An explosive material in fine granular form, used as a propellant in firearms, fireworks, and similar devices.
NOUN
B2
SLANG
5
por
C1
Usage pattern:
some [white/brown] powder; use/sell [powder]
The police found a small bag of white powder in his pocket.
A rendőrség egy kis zacskó fehér port talált a zsebében.
Traces of powder were discovered on the bathroom counter.
Fehér por nyomait fedezték fel a fürdőszobai pulton.
He denied selling powder but admitted to using it occasionally.
Customs officers tested the powder and confirmed it was cocaine.
There was a fine line of powder on the glass table.
Learner examples
The dog found white powder in the bag.
A kutya fehér port talált a táskában.
Police tested the powder and said it was a drug.
A rendőrség bevizsgálta a port, és megállapította, hogy kábítószer.
He went to jail for selling powder on the street.
There was a line of powder on the table.
They found brown powder in the box.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that "powder" by itself can mean illegal drugs in some contexts. In news or crime stories, "powder" without a clear type often suggests a drug, especially if it is described as "white powder".
Meaning
powdered illegal drug
Collocations
white powder
|snort powder
|bag of powder
|lines of powder
|a trail of powder
Synonyms
cocaine (The specific drug most commonly meant when people say "powder" in this sense.)
|
hard drugs (A general term for strong illegal drugs; not limited to powdered forms.)
Antonyms
sobriety (The state of not using drugs or alcohol, opposite of using powder drugs.)
Themes
crime
|health
|society
|daily_life
Definition
A dangerous illegal drug in powder form, usually cocaine.
A powdered illegal drug, especially cocaine, referred to in a general or indirect way.
VERB
B2
6
Usage pattern:
to powder [something] with [powder]
Lightly powder the cake with icing sugar before serving.
Tálalás előtt szórd meg finoman a tortát porcukorral.
She powdered the baby's bottom to prevent a rash.
Hintőporral szórta be a baba fenekét, hogy megelőzze a kiütést.
The baker powdered the worktop with flour.
You should powder your hands with chalk before climbing.
The pastry is powdered with cinnamon and sugar.
Learner examples
He powders the cake with sugar.
Porcukorral szórja meg a tortát.
She powdered the baby after the bath.
Fürdés után hintőporral szórta be a babát.
The cook powders the table with flour.
I powder my hands so they are dry.
They powder the cookies with cocoa.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to say "put powder on" for every case. While correct, native speakers often use the single verb "powder": "Powder the cake with sugar," rather than "Put powder on the cake."
Meaning
cover something with powder
Collocations
powder the baby's bottom
|powder the cake
|powder the surface
|lightly powder with sugar
|powder your hands
Synonyms
dust (Similar meaning when used as a verb ("dust with flour"), but "dust" is slightly more common in cooking English.)
|
sprinkle (General verb for dropping small amounts of a substance; does not always imply it is a powder.)
Antonyms
wipe clean (To remove material from a surface, opposite of putting powder on it.)
Themes
daily life
|food
|care
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To put a fine dry substance over something.
To cover, scatter, or lightly coat something with a fine powder.
VERB
B2
7
bepúderez
B2
Usage pattern:
to powder [one's] face/nose
She went to the bathroom to powder her nose before the meeting.
Az értekezlet előtt kiment a mosdóba, hogy bepúderezze az orrát.
He quickly powdered his face before going on camera.
Gyorsan bepúderezte az arcát, mielőtt kamera elé állt.
The actress sat quietly while the stylist powdered her forehead.
I need to powder my nose; my skin is too shiny.
She powdered her cheeks to give them a matte finish.
Learner examples
She goes to the mirror to powder her nose.
Odamegy a tükörhöz, hogy bepúderezze az orrát.
The actor powders his face before the show.
A színész az előadás előtt bepúderezi az arcát.
I powder my face when it looks too shiny.
She powdered her cheeks with light powder.
They powdered her nose before the photo.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes take "powder my nose" literally, but it usually means to go to the bathroom to fix makeup (and sometimes is a polite way to say you are going to the toilet).
Meaning
put cosmetic powder on face
Collocations
powder her nose
|powder your face
|lightly powdered cheeks
|carefully powdered skin
Synonyms
touch up (Informal verb for fixing or refreshing makeup; not limited to powder.)
|
apply makeup (More general phrase; includes powder and other cosmetics.)
Antonyms
remove makeup (Opposite action: taking makeup off the face instead of putting powder on.)
Themes
appearance
|daily life
|clothing
|daily_life
Definition
To put face powder on your skin as makeup.
To apply cosmetic face powder to the skin, especially to reduce shine or fix makeup.
Grammar
Dictionary form
powder
IPA
GB/pˈaʊdɚ/
US/pˈaʊdɚ/
Syllables & stress
powder (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (powder)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: powder
- Plural: powder, powders
Verb
- Base: powder
- 3rd Person Singular: powders
- Present Participle: powdering
- Past: powdered
Word family
Forms
powders
noun
powdering
verb
powdered
verb
Core family
powdery
adjective
Advanced or less common
powderiness
noun
Expressions
dry powder
1/dɹˈaɪ pˈaʊdɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
available cash or resources
Money or other resources that are kept ready to use later when a good chance comes.
Examples
- The fund still has plenty of dry powder to invest in new startups.
- Companies with dry powder can move quickly when prices fall.
- Investors are holding dry powder while they wait for better valuations.
keep your powder dry
1/kˈip jˈʊɹ pˈaʊdɚ dɹˈaɪ/
idiom
stay prepared and cautious
To stay prepared and careful, waiting for the right time to act.
Examples
- Investors are keeping their powder dry until the market becomes clearer.
- She advised him to keep his powder dry and not react too quickly.
- For now, the team is keeping its powder dry and watching the situation.
powder keg
1/pˈaʊdɚ kˈɛɡ/
idiom
very tense, explosive situation
A situation that is very tense and can quickly become violent or very serious.
Examples
- The region has become a political powder keg.
- With so many people angry, the office felt like a powder keg ready to explode.
- The stadium was a powder keg after the referee's decision.
powder one's nose
1/pˈaʊdɚ wˈʌnz nˈoʊz/
idiom
informal
go to the bathroom briefly
To go to the bathroom for a short time, often as a polite or joking way to say it, especially for women.
Examples
- I'll be right back, I just need to powder my nose.
- She leaned over and whispered that she was going to powder her nose.
- He joked that he was going to powder his nose before the meeting.
powder room
1/pˈaʊdɚ ɹˈum/
fixed phrase
small bathroom, often for guests
A small bathroom, especially for guests, usually with just a toilet and a sink.
Examples
- The powder room is down the hall on your right.
- They added a small powder room near the front door for visitors.
- Excuse me, could you tell me where the powder room is?
take a powder
1/tˈeɪk ə pˈaʊdɚ/
idiom
informal
leave or run off quickly
To leave quickly, often to escape from a problem or to avoid someone.
Examples
- When the police arrived, he took a powder.
- She took a powder as soon as the meeting was over.
- He promised to help, but then took a powder when things got difficult.