Definition of 'power'

Word Frequency

power

(paʊəʳ )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense powers , present participle powering , past tense, past participle powered

1. uncountable noun

If someone has power, they have a lot of control over people and activities.

She interviewed six women who have reached positions of great power and influence.

In a democracy, power must be divided.

...a political power struggle between the Liberals and National Party.

Synonyms: control, authority, influence, command More Synonyms of power

2. uncountable noun [usually NOUN to-infinitive]

Your power to do something is your ability to do it.

Human societies have the power to solve the problems confronting them.

Fathers have the power to dominate children and young people.

He was so drunk that he had lost the power of speech. [+ of]

Synonyms: ability, capacity, faculty, property More Synonyms of power

3. uncountable noun

If it is in or within your power to do something, you are able to do it or you have the resources to deal with it.

Your debt situation is only temporary, and it is within your power to resolve it.

Although it is not in his power to do so, he said he would rebuild the Air Base.

We must do everything in our power to ensure the success of the conference.

4. uncountable noun

If someone in authority has the power to do something, they have the legal right to do it.

The Prime Minister has the power to dismiss and appoint senior ministers.

The police have the power of arrest.

The legal powers of British Customs officers are laid out in the Customs and Excise Management Act of 1969.

Synonyms: authority, right, licence, privilege More Synonyms of power

5. uncountable noun [oft in NOUN]

If people take power or come to power, they take charge of a country's affairs. If a group of people are in power, they are in charge of a country's affairs.

In 1964 Labour came into power.

He first assumed power in 1970.

The party has been in power since independence in 1964.

6. countable noun

You can use power to refer to a country that is very rich or important, or has strong military forces.

The country is a major power in an area of great strategic importance.

...the emergence of a new major economic power.

7. uncountable noun

The power of something is the ability that it has to move or affect things.

The Roadrunner had better power, better tyres, and better brakes.

...massive computing power.

8. uncountable noun

Power is energy, especially electricity, that is obtained in large quantities from a fuel source and used to operate lights, heating, and machinery.

Nuclear power is cleaner than coal.

Power has been restored to most parts that were hit last night by high winds.

There is enough power to run up to four lights.

9. verb

The device or fuel that powers a machine provides the energy that the machine needs in order to work.

The battery could power an electric car for 600 miles on a single charge. [VERB noun]

The planes are powered by Rolls Royce engines. [VERB noun]

-powered combining form

...battery-powered radios.

...nuclear-powered submarines.

10. See also high-powered

11. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

Power tools are operated by electricity.

...large power tools, such as chainsaws.

...a power drill.

12. singular noun

In mathematics, power is used in expressions such as 2 to the power of 4 or 2 to the 4th power to indicate that 2 must be multiplied by itself 4 times. This is written in numbers as 2⁴, or 2 x 2 x 2 x 2, which equals 16.

Any number to the power of nought is equal to one.

13.

the powers that be

Phrasal verbs:

power ahead

power up

More Synonyms of power

Video: pronunciation of 'power'

Word Frequency

power in British

(ˈpaʊə )

noun

ability or capacity to do something

2. (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

10. mathematics

the value of a number or quantity raised to some exponent

b. 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

. Symbol: P

13.

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

14.

the ability to perform work

15.

mechanical energy as opposed to manual labour

(as modifier)

a power mower

16.

a particular form of energy

nuclear power

17.

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

b. 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. in one's power

21. in someone's power

22. the powers that be

verb (transitive)

23.

to give or provide power to

24.

to fit (a machine) with a motor or engine

25. (intransitive) slang

to travel with great speed or force

Word origin of 'power'

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

Word Frequency

power in American

(ˈpaʊər ; pouˈər)

noun

ability to do, act, or produce

a specific ability or faculty

the power of hearing

great ability to do, act, or affect strongly; vigor; force; strength

the ability to control others; authority; sway; influence

b. [pl.]

special authority assigned to or exercised by a person or group holding office

legal ability or authority; also, a document giving it

a source of physical or mechanical force or energy; force or energy that is at, or can be put to, work

electric power, water power

the rate at which work is done: abbrev. P

a person or thing having great influence, force, or authority

a nation, esp. one having influence or domination over other nations

the great powers

national might or political strength

10.

a spirit or divinity

11. Dialectal

a large number or quantity (of something specified)

12.

a. Archaic

an armed force; army; navy

military strength

air power

13. Ancient Mathematics

the product of the multiplication of a quantity by itself

4 is the second power of 2 (22)

exponent (sense 4)

14. Optics

the degree of magnification of a lens, microscope, telescope, etc., expressed as a ratio of the diameters of image and object

verb transitive

15.

to supply with power or with a source of power

adjective

16.

operated by electricity, a fuel engine, etc.

power tools, a power mower

17.

served by an auxiliary, engine-powered system that reduces the effort of the operation

power steering

18.

carrying electricity

power lines

19.

of, for, or signifying persons in business or politics regarded as powerful

a power lunch, a power suit

SIMILAR WORDS: strength

Idioms:

in power

the powers that be

SYNONYMY NOTE: power denotes the inherent ability or the admitted right to rule, govern, and determine [the limited power of a president]; authority refers to the power, because of rank or office, to give commands, enforce obedience, and make decisions [the authority of a teacher]; jurisdiction refers to the power to rule or decide within certain defined limits [the jurisdiction of the courts]; dominion implies sovereign or supreme authority [dominion over a dependent state]; sway stresses the predominance or sweeping scope of power [the Romans held sway over the ancient world]; control, in this connection, implies authority to regulate, restrain, or curb [under the control of a guardian]; command implies such authority that enforces obedience to one's orders [in command of a regiment]

Word origin of 'power'

ME pouer < OFr poeir, earlier poter, orig. inf. < VL *potere, to be able, for L posse, to be able: see potent

Word Frequency

power in Mechanical Engineering

(paʊər)

noun

(Mechanical engineering: Energy, thermodynamics and heat transfer)

Power is the rate at which energy is produced or used.

The watt is a unit of power, equal to one joule per second.

Power is usually transmitted through overhead cables.

Power is the rate at which energy is produced or used.

Word Frequency

power in Electrical Engineering

(paʊər)

noun

(Electrical engineering: Circuits, Electrical power, Computing and control)

Power is electricity obtained in large quantities from a fuel source that is used to operate machines, lights, and heating.

We need to calculate the power consumption of this system in watts.

Should the wind turbine produce more power than the demand of the house, this excess power is fed into the grid via a meter that counts the units fed into the grid.

Power is electricity obtained in large quantities from a fuel source that is used to operate machines, lights, and heating.

nuclear power, power factor, power factor correction, power grid, power line, power plant, power point, power station, power supply, reactive power, solar power, tidal power, uninterruptible power supply, wave power

Talking about powerWe usually say that power is generated or produced when it is made.A thing or process that power comes from is a source of power.A power failure or outage is a temporary loss of the electric power to an area.

Example sentences containing 'power'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

It is to gain power and control. Times, Sunday Times (2016)It is powered by a battery that lasts three to four weeks. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The power pose was one of those nuggets of glamorous research which gained instant global popularity. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Either she has prodigious persuasive powers, given most of big business voted remain. Times, Sunday Times (2017)An August cut in power subsidies raised electricity bills by the same percentage. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Three minutes into the second half, the lights went off as the area suffered a power cut. Times, Sunday Times (2016)FAMILIES face a hike in their energy bills as power giants get set to pass on increases in the price they pay. The Sun (2016)The answer, shameful but informed by realpolitik, is that no major western power is prepared to intervene. Times, Sunday Times (2016)I felt a realisation I had that ability and power to let that go and forgive. The Sun (2016)This ring has the power to control all other rings. Christianity Today (2000)The navies of all the major powers awaited the outcome of this confrontation with particular fascination. Gavin Weightman SIGNOR MARCONI'S MAGIC BOX: The invention that sparked the radio revolution (2003)The new hybrid engines have reduced power but better battery life. The Sun (2014)We had this power and energy and were just perfect together. The Sun (2013)More than one story is powered by feelings of abandonment. Times, Sunday Times (2014)The electric power steering is too sudden. Times, Sunday Times (2007)We ask residents in the areas near power plants to act calmly. The Sun (2011)The nuclear power plant is in an earthquake zone. Times, Sunday Times (2010)The role and power of political officers were downgraded. Times, Sunday Times (2013)The tribunal has no legal power to compel his attendance. Times, Sunday Times (2007)The power of the new moon in your values chart makes you smarter and luckier with money. The Sun (2009) Air power can help with that too but it is a poor substitute for policy. Times, Sunday Times (2014)Some things are more important than power. Times, Sunday Times (2015)Two-thirds are turning off lights and other electrical devices to reduce power bills. The Sun (2008)With great power comes great merchandising opportunities. Times, Sunday Times (2009)You are considering the introduction of a small electrically powered car for city use. Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)That fighting has left much of Sanaa without power due to electricity lines being damaged. Times, Sunday Times (2014)You have a very simple four-cylinder engine powering electric motors. Times, Sunday Times (2012)We know Price has the power and technical ability. The Sun (2013)

Quotations

Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutelyFirst Baron Acton letter

Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess itWilliam Pitt, Earl of Chatham

Power is the great aphrodisiacHenry Kissinger

Here we may reign secure, and in my choice
To reign is worth ambition though in hell;
Better to reign in hell, than serve in heav'nJohn Milton Paradise Lost

there is no such thing as revolutionary power, for all power is reactionary by nature Spanish anarchist slogan

Political power grows out of the barrel of a gunMao Tse-tung

A friend in power is a friend lostHenry Brooks Adams The Education of Henry 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 warrantJohn Stuart Mill On Liberty