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power
[ pou-er ]
noun
- ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something:
Everyone has the power to better themselves.
Synonyms: capacity
Antonyms: incapacity
- political or national strength:
The Second World War changed the balance of power in Europe.
Synonyms: energy
Antonyms: weakness
Words have tremendous power over our minds.
- political ascendancy or control in the government of a country, state, etc.:
They attained power by overthrowing the legal government.
Synonyms: sovereignty, rule, sway, ascendancy
- legal ability, capacity, or authority:
the legislative powers vested in Congress.
- delegated authority; authority granted to a person or persons in a particular office or capacity:
a delegate with power to mediate disputes.
- a document or written statement conferring legal authority.
- a person or thing that possesses or exercises authority or influence.
- a state or nation having international authority or influence:
The great powers held an international conference.
- a military or naval force:
The Spanish Armada was a mighty power.
the heavenly powers.
- pow·ers, Theology. an order of angels. Compare angel ( def 1 ).
- Dialect. a large number or amount:
There's a power of good eatin' at the church social.
- Physics.
- work done or energy transferred per unit of time. : P
- the time rate of doing work.
- mechanical energy as distinguished from hand labor:
The factory recently began using looms driven by power.
- a particular form of mechanical or physical energy:
hydroelectric power.
- energy, force, or momentum:
The door slammed shut, seemingly under its own power.
- Mathematics.
- the product obtained by multiplying a quantity by itself one or more times:
The third power of 2 is 8.
- (of a number x ) a number whose logarithm is a times the logarithm of x (and is called the a th power of x ). Symbolically, y = xa is a number that satisfies the equation log y = a log x.
- the exponent of an expression, as a in xa.
- Optics.
- the magnifying capacity of a microscope, telescope, etc., expressed as the ratio of the diameter of the image to the diameter of the object. Compare magnification ( def 2 ).
- the reciprocal of the focal length of a lens.
verb (used with object)
- to supply with electricity or other means of power:
Atomic energy powers the new submarines.
- to give power to; make powerful:
An outstanding quarterback powered the team in its upset victory.
A strong faith in divine goodness powers his life.
- (of a fuel, engine, or any source able to do work) to supply force to operate (a machine):
An electric motor powers this drill.
- to drive or push by applying power:
She powered the car expertly up the winding mountain road.
adjective
- operated or driven by a motor or electricity:
a power mower;
power tools.
- power-assisted:
cars with power brakes and power windows.
- conducting electricity:
a power cable.
- Informal. expressing or exerting power, especially in business; involving or characteristic of those having authority or influence:
She dressed for court in hose, heels, and a conservative power suit.
The corporate-sponsored lobbyists are fueled by power breakfasts of ice-cold orange juice and croissants.
verb phrase
- Computers. to shut off.
- Computers. to turn on.
power
/ ˈpaʊə /
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
- maths
- the value of a number or quantity raised to some exponent
- another name for exponent
- 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
- 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
- mechanical energy as opposed to manual labour
- ( as modifier )
a power mower
- a particular form of energy
nuclear power
- 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
- in one's poweroften foll by an infinitive able or allowed (to)
- in someone's powerunder the control or sway of someone
- the powers that bethe established authority or administration
verb
- to give or provide power to
- to fit (a machine) with a motor or engine
- slang.intr to travel with great speed or force
power
/ pou′ər /
- The source of energy used to operate a machine or other system.
- The rate at which work is done, or energy expended, per unit time. Power is usually measured in watts (especially for electrical power) or horsepower (especially for mechanical power). For a path conducting electrical current, such as a component in an electric circuit, P = VI, where P is the power dissipated along the path, V is the voltage across the path, and I is the current through the path.
- Compare energy
- Mathematics.The number of times a number or expression is multiplied by itself, as shown by an exponent. Thus ten to the sixth power, or 10 6, equals one million.
- A number that represents the magnification of an optical instrument, such as a microscope or telescope. A 500-power microscope can magnify an image to 500 times its original size.
Other Words From
- coun·ter·pow·er noun
- de-pow·er verb (used with object)
- re·pow·er verb
Word History and Origins
Origin of power1
Word History and Origins
Origin of power1
Idioms and Phrases
- power behind the throne, someone or something that has a great deal of influence and control despite lacking official status:
Although the chairman is ostensibly in charge, his secretary makes all the decisions and is the real power behind the throne.
- the powers that be, those in supreme command; the authorities:
The decision is in the hands of the powers that be.
More idioms and phrases containing power
- corridors of power
- more power to someone
- staying power
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Even though they will often get the job done, you’re still leaving a lot of power and performance on the table.
In total, there are five drive units, each of which integrates the power electronics as well as the electric motors.
Much of that growth is being powered by online sales, and a lot of the advertising promoting those products has been concentrated in affiliate spending.
“I’m sorry, but one man should never have that type of power,” Young said.
He said three times that Biden “never did it” or “didn’t do it,” as if the former vice president had some actual power to enact it right now.
From this attitude he draws a singular comic and literary power.
And the fact that satire unnerves the intolerant is evidence of its positive power.
Would the Democrats rescind those rights if they were to return to power?
Employees strap a device to their heads and power a helicopter drone with their minds.
What it endangers is a narrow conception of Russian power, understood through the eyes of its dictatorial leader.
For this use of the voice in the special service of will-power, or propelling force, it is necessary first to test its freedom.
Wharton smiled at this littleness in so great a man, but determined that he should feel the power he despised.
He brings out all their power, brilliancy and careering wildness, and makes the greatest sensation of them.
She knew that she alone of all human beings was gifted with the power to understand and fully sympathize with him.
We live in an age that is at best about a century and a half old—the age of machinery and power.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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