Word Frequency
power (ˈpaʊə
)
Definitions
noun
- ability or capacity to do something
- often plural a specific ability, capacity, or faculty
- political, financial, social, etc, force or influence
- control or dominion or a position of control, dominion, or authority
- a state or other political entity with political, industrial, or military strength
- a person who exercises control, influence, or authority ⇒
he's a power in the state
- a prerogative, privilege, or liberty
-
- legal authority to act, esp in a specified capacity, for another
- the document conferring such authority
-
- a military force
- military potential
- (mathematics)
- the value of a number or quantity raised to some exponent
- another name for exponent (sense 4)
- (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
- (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
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- 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
- (as modifier) ⇒
a power amplifier
- the ability to perform work
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- mechanical energy as opposed to manual labour
- (as modifier) ⇒
a power mower
- a particular form of energy ⇒
nuclear power
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- 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
- another word for magnification
- (informal) a large amount or quantity ⇒
a power of good
- plural the sixth of the nine orders into which the angels are traditionally divided in medieval angelology
-
See in one's power
verb
- to give or provide power to
- to fit (a machine) with a motor or engine
- intr (slang) to travel with great speed or force
Word Origin
C13: from Anglo-Norman poer, from Vulgar Latin potēre (unattested), from Latin posse to be ableSynonyms
View thesaurus entry = control, authority, influence, command, sovereignty, sway, dominance, domination, supremacy, mastery, dominion, ascendancy, mana, bottom
Quotations including 'power'
"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely"
"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it"
"Power is the great aphrodisiac"
"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"
"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"
"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun"
"A friend in power is a friend lost"
"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"
Translations for 'power'
- British English: power If someone has power, they have control over people.He has the power to keep you in after school.ˈpaʊə NOUNcontrol
- Arabic: قُوَّة
- Brazilian Portuguese: poder
- Chinese: 力量
- Croatian: moć
- Czech: moc
- Danish: magt
- Dutch: macht
- European Spanish: poder
- Finnish: valta
- French: pouvoirautorité
- German: Macht Mächte
- Greek: ισχύς
- Italian: potere
- Japanese: 能力
- Korean: 힘
- Norwegian: makt
- Polish: siłazdolność
- Portuguese: poder
- Romanian: putere puteri
- Russian: власть
- Spanish: poderfuerza, vigor
- Swedish: makt
- Thai: อำนาจ
- Turkish: güçerk
- Ukrainian: влада
- Vietnamese: quyền lực
- British English: powerˈpaʊə The power of something is its strength.The engine doesn't often work at full power. NOUNstrength
- Arabic: قُوَّة
- Brazilian Portuguese: energia
- Chinese: 功率
- Croatian: snaga
- Czech: síla
- Danish: styrke
- Dutch: kracht
- European Spanish: potencia
- Finnish: teho
- French: puissance
- German: Kraft
- Greek: ισχύς
- Italian: potenza
- Japanese: 力
- Korean: 동력
- Norwegian: kraft
- Polish: moc
- Portuguese: potência
- Romanian: putere puteri
- Russian: мощность
- Spanish: potencia
- Swedish: effekt
- Thai: กำลัง
- Turkish: güç
- Ukrainian: сила
- Vietnamese: sức mạnh
Example Sentences Including 'power'
"Consumer power has the effect of making clients more demanding of their agencies.Irish Times (2002)
A leader always removes the loudest opposing voices upon attaining power.TREASON KEEP (2001)
He could remember feeling the same way, when he was her age, and he discovered how much his power set him apart.TREASON KEEP (2001)
He supported Governor Hunter's attempts to curb the power of Captain John Macarthur, with whom he nearly fought a duel.THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)
It should not be hawked around the country to keep anyone in power.Irish Times (2002)
No matter how much sympathy we have with the claimant, we have no power to authorise a payment from the prize fund.Glasgow Herald (2001)
She claimed he and his allies incensed supporters in an effort to seize power for their own benefit.Glasgow Herald (2001)
The Harshini power that made her what she was lurked tantalisingly out of reach.TREASON KEEP (2001)
Which is why, says Mr Blair, we cannot rule out nuclear power.Country Life (2004)
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