English Dictionary

Definition of “power”

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power (ˈpaʊəPronunciation for power) 

Definitions

noun

  1. ability or capacity to do something
  2. (often plural) a specific ability, capacity, or faculty
  3. political, financial, social, etc, force or influence
  4. control or dominion or a position of control, dominion, or authority
  5. a state or other political entity with political, industrial, or military strength
  6. a person who exercises control, influence, or authority  ⇒ he's a power in the state 
  7. a prerogative, privilege, or liberty
    1. legal authority to act, esp in a specified capacity, for another
    2. the document conferring such authority
    1. a military force
    2. military potential
  10. mathematics 
    1. the value of a number or quantity raised to some exponent
    2. another name for exponent (sense 4)
  11. statistics the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis in a test when it is false. The power of a test of a given null depends on the particular alternative hypothesis against which it is tested
  12. physics engineering a measure of the rate of doing work expressed as the work done per unit time. It is measured in watts, horsepower, etc P
    1. the rate at which electrical energy is fed into or taken from a device or system. It is expressed, in a direct-current circuit, as the product of current and voltage and, in an alternating-current circuit, as the product of the effective values of the current and voltage and the cosine of the phase angle between them. It is measured in watts
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ a power amplifier 
  14. the ability to perform work
    1. mechanical energy as opposed to manual labour
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ a power mower 
  16. a particular form of energy  ⇒ nuclear power 
    1. a measure of the ability of a lens or optical system to magnify an object, equal to the reciprocal of the focal length. It is measured in dioptres
    2. another word for magnification
  18. informal a large amount or quantity  ⇒ a power of good 
  19. (plural) the sixth of the nine orders into which the angels are traditionally divided in medieval angelology
  20. See in one's power
  21. See in someone's power
  22. See the powers that be

verb (tr)

  1. to give or provide power to
  2. to fit (a machine) with a motor or engine
  3. (intr) slang to travel with great speed or force

See also

power down , power up

Word Origin

C13: from Anglo-Norman poer,  from Vulgar Latin potēre  (unattested), from Latin posse to be able

Quotations

  • "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely" First Baron Acton
  • "Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it" William Pitt, Earl of Chatham
  • "Power is the great aphrodisiac" Henry Kissinger
  • "Here we may reign secure, and in my choiceTo reign is worth ambition though in hell;Better to reign in hell, than serve in heav'n" John Milton
  • "there is no such thing as revolutionary power, for all power is reactionary by nature" Spanish anarchist slogan
  • "Power without responsibility; the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages" Rudyard Kipling
  • "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun" Mao Tse-tung
  • "A friend in power is a friend lost" Henry Brooks Adams
  • "The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant" John Stuart Mill

Translations

  • British English: power Pronunciation for power If someone has power, they have control over people.He has the power to keep you in after school.ˈpaʊə NOUN He has the power to keep you in after school.
  • Spanish: poder Pronunciation for poder nm
  • French: pouvoir Pronunciation for pouvoir nm
  • German: Macht Pronunciation for Macht nf Mächte
  • Chinese: 力量Pronunciation for 力量 n
  • Arabic: قُوَّةPronunciation for قُوَّة n
  • Portuguese: poderPronunciation for poder nm
  • Russian: силаPronunciation for сила nf
  • Croatian: moćPronunciation for moć nf
  • Czech: mocPronunciation for moc nf
  • Danish: magtPronunciation for magt nutr
  • Dutch: machtPronunciation for macht n
  • Finnish: valtaPronunciation for valta n
  • Greek: ισχύςPronunciation for ισχύς nf
  • Italian: poterePronunciation for potere nm
  • Japanese: 能力Pronunciation for 能力 n
  • Korean: 힘Pronunciation for 힘 n
  • Norwegian: maktPronunciation for makt nm
  • Polish: siłaPronunciation for siła nf
  • Brazilian Portuguese: poderPronunciation for poder nm
  • European Spanish: poder Pronunciation for poder nm
  • Swedish: maktPronunciation for makt nutr
  • Thai: อำนาจPronunciation for อำนาจ n
  • Turkish: güçPronunciation for güç n
  • Vietnamese: lựcPronunciation for lực n
  • British English: power The power of something is its strength.The engine doesn't often work at full power.ˈpaʊə NOUN The engine doesn't often work at full power.
  • French: puissance nf
  • Arabic: قُوَّة n
  • Brazilian Portuguese: energia nf

Usage examples

  • Her eyes darkened until they turned completely black, the whites of her eyes consumed by the power she gathered to her.
    Jennifer Fallon, TREASON KEEP (2001)
  • The main thrust of this book, however, is of the power of architecture and of places to influence and to console.
    Country Life (2004)
  • Aged 65, there is speculation that she will retire from the senior ranks of the Cabinet if Fianna Fáil returns to power.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • FRANKFURT: Protesters forced a train carrying spent nuclear fuel from German power plants to France to stop near the border yesterday.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • In such a way the deceased's spirit is drawn back into the web of the living, exercising his metaphysical power from beyond the grave.
    James Cowan, ABORIGINE DREAMING: Introduction to the Wisdom and Thought of the Aboriginal Traditions of Australia (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'P'

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