pow

¹

[pou]

interjection

1. (used to express or indicate a heavy blow or a loud, explosive noise.)

noun

1. a heavy blow or a loud, explosive noise.

2. the power of exciting.

adjective

1. exciting and appealing.

pow

²

[poh, pou]

noun

Scot. and North England.

1. the head; poll.

POW

³

Or P.O.W.

1. prisoner of war.

POW

¹

abbreviation

1. prisoner of war

pow

²

/ paʊ /

interjection

1. an exclamation imitative of a collision, explosion, etc

pow

³

/ paʊ /

noun

1. the head or a head of hair

pow

⁴

/ paʊ /

noun

1. a creek or slow stream

Word History and Origins

Origin of pow¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Origin of pow²

First recorded in 1715–25; variant of poll ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pow¹

a Scot variant of _poll

Origin of pow²

C15: from earlier Scots poll

Example Sentences

McCain was suffering from brain cancer and had dealt with a lifetime of health challenges due to his injuries as a POW in the Vietnam War.

Read more on Salon

Ukraine's national police said that "expert reports, witness testimony and video footage from the scene confirmed that the Russian soldier deliberately killed the POW on the orders of his commanders, who had instructed troops not to take Ukrainian soldiers captive".

Read more on BBC

Photos provided by Jang's organisation show one POW reading letters from defectors now living in the South.

Read more on Barron's

"I don't recall training on international humanitarian law," a Russian POW told the UN recently.

Read more on BBC

Bella Aguirre sat on a stool at Sticky Rice’s counter, finishing her meal of pad kra pow.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clout 
• courage 
• durability 
• energy 
• firmness www.thesaurus.com
• fortitude 
• health 
• power 
• stability 
• tenacity 
• toughness 
• vigor 
• vitality