Powder vs Meal - What's the difference?

In transitive terms the difference between powder and meal

is that powder is to sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat while meal is to defile or taint.

powder

English

Alternative forms

* powdre (obsolete)

Noun

The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or into which it falls by decay; dust.

* (rfdate) (William Shakespeare):

Grind their bones to powder small.

A mixture of fine dry, sweet-smelling particles applied to the face or other body parts, to reduce shine or to alleviate chaffing.

* 1912 , :

She was redolent of violet sachet powder, and had warm, soft, white hands, but she danced divinely, moving as smoothly as the tide coming in.

An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder.

(informal) Light, dry, fluffy snow.

Derived terms

* Atlas powder * baking powder * Bolivian marching powder * powder blue * powder burn * powder down * powder-down feather * powder-down patch * powder hose * powder hoy * powder magazine * powder mine * powder monkey * powder post * powder puff * powder room * take a powder

Verb

(en verb)

To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder.

To sprinkle with powder, or as with powder.

to powder the hair

* (rfdate) :

A circling zone thou seest / Powdered with stars.

To be reduced to powder; to become like powder.

Some salts powder easily.

To use powder on the hair or skin.

She paints and powders .

To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat.

Synonyms

* (to reduce to fine particles) pound, grind, comminute, pulverize, triturate

meal

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)

(senseid)Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time (e.g. breakfast = morning meal, lunch = noon meal, etc).

* {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)

, title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.}}

Food served or eaten as a repast.

* {{quote-magazine, year=2012, month=March-April, author=Anna Lena Phillips, volume=100, issue=2, page=172

, magazine=(American Scientist) , title= Sneaky Silk Moths , passage=Last spring, the periodical cicadas emerged across eastern North America. Their vast numbers and short above-ground life spans inspired awe and irritation in humans—and made for good meals for birds and small mammals.}}

Hyponyms

* See also

Derived terms

* make a meal of * meal mob * meal station * meal ticket

Etymology 2

From (etyl) mele, from (etyl) . More at (l).

Noun

(-)

The coarse-ground edible part of various grains often used to feed animals; flour.

* {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)

, title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal .}}

Derived terms

* mealy * cornmeal * oatmeal

Etymology 3

Variation of mole (compare (etyl) mail), from (etyl) mole, mool, from (etyl) . More at (l).

Noun

(en noun)

A speck or spot.

A part; a fragment; a portion.

Verb

(en verb)

To defile or taint.

Were he meal'd with that / Which he corrects, than were he tyrannous. ? Shakespeare.

Anagrams

* 1000 English basic words ----