Definition

Noun: - A chemical substance in powder form used to kill insects: This refers specifically to a powdered insecticide designed to eliminate or control insect pests.

Usage

• Used as a countable or uncountable noun to describe the physical powder itself.
• Typically applied by dusting or sprinkling in areas where insects are present.

Examples

• Noun:
  • She sprinkled insect powder around the base of the plants to deter ants.
  • This insect powder is effective against crawling insects like cockroaches and silverfish.

Advanced Usage

• "To apply insect powder": To put the powder in a specific location.
  • It is important to apply insect powder in cracks and crevices where insects hide.

Variants and Related Words

• Insecticide (n): A more general term for any substance used to kill insects, which can come in various forms (liquid, powder, spray).
• Dust (n, in this context): Can be used informally to refer to a powdered insecticide.
  • He used a special dust to control fleas in the carpet.

Synonyms

• Insecticidal powder: A more formal synonym.
• Bug dust: An informal, colloquial term.

Notes

• "Insect powder" is a compound noun. The core meaning resides in the combination of both words. The separate words "insect" and "powder" do not convey this specific meaning on their own.
• This term is often associated with traditional or domestic pest control methods.

Noun

1. a chemical used to kill insects