power plant

American  

Or powerplant

noun

1. a plant, including engines, dynamos, etc., and the building or buildings necessary for the generation of power, as electric or nuclear power.

2. the machinery for supplying power for a particular mechanical process or operation.

3. the engine, motor, or other power source along with related ignition, transmission, etc., components of a vehicle, aircraft, machine, etc.

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power plant British  

noun

1. the complex, including machinery, associated equipment, and the structure housing it, that is used in the generation of power, esp electrical power

2. the equipment supplying power to a particular machine or for a particular operation or process

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Etymology

Origin of power plant

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Early on Saturday, several cables on a bridge were spotted burning near a power plant in south-west Berlin.

From BBC

Emergency services were alerted early Saturday that several high-voltage cables on a bridge near a power plant had gone up in flames.

From Barron's

What’s happened since: The state’s primary utility, Duke Energy, has backed off from some plans to rely more on clean energy and retire coal-fired power plants.

From Salon

There is a long interconnection process that takes years to complete, and there is an even more complex regime for new power plants.

From Barron's

They are starting to build on-site power plants and ordering scores of electric generators.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• power station
• station