Definition

Noun: 1. A soft, spherical puff used for applying cosmetic powder to the skin: A small, fluffy pad, typically made of soft material like cotton, down, or synthetic fibers, attached to a short handle. Its primary function is to pick up and evenly apply face or body powder.

Usage

The word "powderpuff" is a compound noun. It is used to refer specifically to the cosmetic applicator tool. * She gently dabbed her face with a powderpuff to set her makeup. * The vintage vanity set included a beautiful hand mirror and a matching powderpuff. * He replaced the soiled powderpuff with a clean one from the package.

Advanced Usage

• Metaphorical Use for Softness or Gentleness: The term can be used metaphorically to describe something exceptionally soft, gentle, or lacking in force.
  • The kitten's fur was as soft as a powderpuff.
  • The boxer's opponent was dismissed as a powderpuff puncher, lacking any real power.

Variants and Related Words

• Puff (noun): Can be a shorter, more general term for a powderpuff or any soft, rounded mass.
• Powder puff (noun phrase): An alternative spelling with a space between the words, identical in meaning.
• Powder-puff (adjective): Used attributively, often in a derogatory or diminutive sense, to describe something as non-serious, gentle, or traditionally associated with women (e.g., , a non-tackle version of the sport).

Synonyms

• Puff
• Powder applicator
• Face puff

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• Powderpuff sport/league/game: A term (often considered dated or potentially pejorative) for a sports event or league that is non-contact, less competitive, or traditionally intended for female participants, deriving from the "powder-puff" adjective usage.
  • The charity event featured a powderpuff football game between the junior and senior classes.

Noun

1. a soft spherical object made from fluffy fibers; for applying powder to the skin