power

Pluralpowers

Formspowers, powering, powered

1. 1
   official authoritynouncountable or uncountable

   The ability or right to control people and what happens.

   Like a referee who is allowed to stop the game and make the rules stick.

   The mayor used her power to veto the new law.

   Courts have the power to overturn unfair decisions.

   UsageYou have power over someone. A party in power runs the country.

   Similarauthority, control, influence, command, sway

   Note
2. 2
   electricitynouncountable or uncountable

   Electricity, or the supply of electricity that runs lights and machines.

   Like the water that flows to your taps, but it runs your lights and TV instead.

   The whole street lost power during the storm.

   She switched off the power before changing the light bulb.

   UsageSay the power is out or we lost power.

   Similarelectricity, current, energy, supply

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   An ability to do something or to make something happen.

   Like a magnet that can pull other things toward it.

   The medicine has the power to ease pain quickly.

   Music has a strange power over our moods.

   UsageSay the power to do something, or powers of persuasion.

   Similarability, capacity, capability, faculty, force

   Note
4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To give a machine the energy it needs to work, or to be what makes something go.

   Like feeding wood to a fire to keep it burning.

   These batteries power the flashlight for hours.

   A small engine powers the whole machine.

   UsageSay powered by batteries or solar-powered.

   Similarrun, drive, fuel, energize

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The physical strength or force of a person, animal, or thing.

   Like the strong push of a big ocean wave.

   He hit the ball with surprising power.

   The boxer's punches lacked their usual power.

   Similarforce, strength, might, energy, vigor

   Oppositeweakness, feebleness

6. 6
   nouncountable or uncountable

   How fast energy is used or moved from one place to another.

   You need more power to carry the boxes upstairs in one minute than in ten.

   The small motor has less power than the big one, so it lifts the box more slowly.

   Similarwattage, output

   Note
7. 7
   strong nationnounmetonymicallycountable or uncountable

   A strong or important country, company, or other group.

   Like the biggest, strongest team in the league that everyone watches.

   China has become a major economic power.

   The two great powers competed for influence.

   UsageSay a world power or a great power.

   Similarforce, heavyweight, giant

   Note
8. 8
   nouncountable or uncountablebefore a noun

   Used before a noun to show that someone acts in a strong, big way.

   Grandpa is a power walker who loops the park every morning.

   As a power user, she knows every shortcut in the program.

   UsageWritten as two words: power user, power walker.

   Note
9. 9
   noununcountable

   Energy, for example from wind, water, fuel, or muscles, that makes machines and vehicles work or move.

   The old mill used the power of the river to turn its big wheel.

   Before engines, farmers needed the power of horses to pull their plows.

   UsageSay wind power or steam power.

   Similarenergy

   Note
10. 10
    adjective

    Worked or helped by a motor or engine, not only by a person's hands or strength.

    My dad keeps his power tools in the garage.

    The old truck has no power steering, so turning the wheel is hard work.

    UsageUse it before a noun: power tools, power windows.

    Similarelectric, motorized

    Oppositemanual

    Note

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