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dry powder. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
dry powder, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
dry powder in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
dry powder you have here. The definition of the word
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dry powder, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
The financial sense comes by metaphor from the gunpowder sense.
Noun
dry powder (countable and uncountable, plural dry powders)
- A powder found in a fire extinguisher that is expelled to smother the fire (in contrast with liquid types of extinguisher).
- A powder found in an inhaler that delivers a bronchodilator for antiasthmatic or antiemphysemic purposes (indications).
- (finance) Cash (or cash-like securities) kept in reserve in case of need.
Private equity firms were sitting on more than $1 trillion in dry powder at the end of 2011.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see dry, powder; especially, gunpowder kept dry to keep it from spoiling before use.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
powder from a fire extinguisher