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[pou-er] /ˈpaʊ ər/

noun
1.
ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something.
2.
political or national strength:
the balance of power in Europe.
3.
great or marked ability to do or act; strength; might; force.
4.
the possession of control or command over others; authority; ascendancy:
power over men’s minds.
5.
political ascendancy or control in the government of a country, state, etc.:
They attained power by overthrowing the legal government.
6.
legal ability, capacity, or authority:
the power of attorney.
7.
delegated authority; authority granted to a person or persons in a particular office or capacity:
the powers of the president.
8.
a document or written statement conferring legal authority.
9.
a person or thing that possesses or exercises authority or influence.
10.
a state or nation having international authority or influence:
The great powers held an international conference.
11.
a military or naval force:
The Spanish Armada was a mighty power.
12.
Often, powers. a deity; divinity:
the heavenly powers.
13.
powers, Theology. an order of angels.
Compare (def 1).
14.
Dialect. a large number or amount:
There’s a power of good eatin’ at the church social.
15.
Physics.

16.
mechanical energy as distinguished from hand labor:
a loom driven by power.
17.
a particular form of mechanical or physical energy:
hydroelectric power.
18.
energy, force, or momentum:
The door slammed shut, seemingly under its own power.
19.
Mathematics.

20.
Optics.

verb (used with object)
21.
to supply with electricity or other means of power:
Atomic energy powers the new submarines.
22.
to give power to; make powerful:
An outstanding quarterback powered the team in its upset victory.
23.
to inspire; spur; sustain:
A strong faith in divine goodness powers his life.
24.
(of a fuel, engine, or any source able to do work) to supply force to operate (a machine):
An electric motor powers this drill.
25.
to drive or push by applying power:
She powered the car expertly up the winding mountain road.
adjective
26.
operated or driven by a motor or electricity:
a power mower; power tools.
27.
power-assisted:
His new car has power brakes and power windows.
28.
conducting electricity:
a power cable.
29.
Informal. expressing or exerting power; characteristic of those having authority or influence:
to host a power lunch.
Verb phrases
30.
power down, Computers. to shut off.
31.
power up, Computers. to turn on.
Idioms
32.
the powers that be, those in supreme command; the authorities:
The decision is in the hands of the powers that be.
/ˈpaʊə/
noun
1.
ability or capacity to do something
2.
(often pl) a specific ability, capacity, or faculty
3.
political, financial, social, etc, force or influence
4.
control or dominion or a position of control, dominion, or authority
5.
a state or other political entity with political, industrial, or military strength
6.
a person who exercises control, influence, or authority: he’s a power in the state
7.
a prerogative, privilege, or liberty
8.

9.

10.
(maths)

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 P
13.

14.
the ability to perform work
15.

16.
a particular form of energy: nuclear power
17.

18.
(informal) a large amount or quantity: a power of good
19.
(pl) the sixth of the nine orders into which the angels are traditionally divided in medieval angelology
20.
(often foll by an infinitive) in one’s power, able or allowed (to)
21.
in someone’s power, under the control or sway of someone
22.
the powers that be, the established authority or administration
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
n.

c.1300, “ability; ability to act or do; strength, vigor, might,” especially in battle; “efficacy; control, mastery, lordship, dominion; legal power or authority; authorization; military force, an army,” from Anglo-French pouair, Old French povoir, noun use of the infinitive, “to be able,” earlier podir (9c.), from Vulgar Latin *potere, from Latin potis “powerful” (see potent).

Whatever some hypocritical ministers of government may say about it, power is the greatest of all pleasures. It seems to me that only love can beat it, and love is a happy illness that can’t be picked up as easily as a Ministry. [Stendhal “de l’Amour,” 1822]

Meaning “one who has power” is late 14c. Meaning “specific ability or capacity” is from early 15c. Meaning “a state or nation with regard to international authority or influence” [OED] is from 1726. Used for “a large number of” from 1660s. Meaning “energy available for work is from 1727. Sense of “electrical supply” is from 1896.

Phrase the powers that be is from Rom. xiii:1. As a statement wishing good luck, more power to (someone) is recorded from 1842. A power play in ice hockey so called by 1940. Power failure is from 1911; power steering from 1921.

v.

“to supply with power,” 1898, from power (n.). Earlier it meant “make powerful” (1530s). Related: Powered; powering.

power pow·er (pou’ər)
n.

power
(pou’ər)

In physics, the amount of energy put out or produced in a given amount of time. Power is often measured in watts or kilowatts.

In mathematics, a power is a number multiplied by itself the number of times signified by an exponent placed to the right and above it. Thus, 32, which means 3 × 3, is a power — the second power of three, or three squared, or nine. The expression 106, or ten to the sixth power, means 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 × 10, or one million.

verb

To hit the ball very hard: He powered that one to the wall (1940s+ Baseball)

Related Terms

flower power
In addition to the idioms beginning with power
power behind the throne