Dictionary

1power

noun, pow·er often attributive \ˈpa(-ə)r\

: the ability or right to control people or things

: political control of a country or area

: a person or organization that has a lot of control and influence over other people or organizations

Full Definition of POWER

1
a (1) :  ability to act or produce an effect (2) :  ability to get extra-base hits (3) :  capacity for being acted upon or undergoing an effect
b :  legal or official authority, capacity, or right
2
a :  possession of control, authority, or influence over others
b :  one having such power; specifically :  a sovereign state
c :  a controlling group :  establishment —often used in the phrase the powers that be
d archaic :  a force of armed men
e chiefly dialect :  a large number or quantity
3
a :  physical might
b :  mental or moral efficacy
c :  political control or influence
4
plural :  an order of angels — see celestial hierarchy
5
a :  the number of times as indicated by an exponent that a number occurs as a factor in a product <5 to the third power is 125>; also :  the product itself <8 is a power of 2>
b :  cardinal number 2
6
a :  a source or means of supplying energy; especially :  electricity
b :  motive power
c :  the time rate at which work is done or energy emitted or transferred
7
:  magnification 2b
8
:  1scope 3
9
:  the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis in a statistical test when a particular alternative hypothesis happens to be true
ADVERTISEMENT

Origin of POWER

Middle English, from Anglo-French poer, pouer, from poer to be able, from Vulgar Latin *potēre, alteration of Latin posse — more at potent
First Known Use: 13th century

Synonym Discussion of POWER

power, authority, jurisdiction, control, command, sway, dominion mean the right to govern or rule or determine. power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence <the power to mold public opinion>. authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits <granted the authority to manage her estate>. jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits <the bureau having jurisdiction over parks>. control stresses the power to direct and restrain <you are responsible for the students under your control>. command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience <the army officer in command>. sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence <the empire extended its sway over the region>. dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority <given dominion over all the animals>.power, force, energy, strength, might mean the ability to exert effort. power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon <the awesome power of flowing water>. force implies the actual effective exercise of power <used enough force to push the door open>. energy applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work <a worker with boundless energy>. strength applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack <use weight training to build your strength>. might implies great or overwhelming power or strength <the belief that might makes right>.

2power

verb

: to supply (something) with power

: to move with great speed or force

Full Definition of POWER

transitive verb
1
:  to supply with power and especially motive power
2
:  to give impetus to
intransitive verb
1
:  to move about by means of motive power
2
:  to move with great speed or force

First Known Use of POWER

1540

3power

adjective

: of or relating to electrical power

: operated by using electricity rather than a person's strength

: having great strength or power

Full Definition of POWER

1
:  operated mechanically or electrically rather than manually <a car with power locks> <power tools>
2
:  of, relating to, or utilizing strength <plays a power game>; also :  powerful 1 <a power critic>
3
:  of, relating to, or being a meal at which influential people discuss business or politics <a power lunch>

First Known Use of POWER

1822

Other Electrical Engineering Terms

feedback, fuse, incandescent, noise, resonance
POWER Defined for Kids

1power

noun pow·er \ˈpa-ər\

Definition of POWER for Kids

1
:  possession of control, authority, or influence over others
2
:  a nation that has influence among other nations <a foreign power>
3
:  the ability to act or produce an effect <It's in your power to change things.>
4
:  the right to do something <the president's powers>
5
:  physical might :  strength <The wind grew in power.>
6
:  the number of times as shown by an exponent that a number is used as a factor to obtain a product <103 is the third power of 10 and means 10 × 10 × 10.>
7
:  force or energy used to do work <electric power>
8
:  the rate of speed at which work is done
9
:  the number of times an optical instrument (as a microscope) magnifies the object viewed

2power

verb
pow·eredpow·er·ing

Definition of POWER for Kids

:  to supply with a form of energy <The old train was powered by coal.>
Medical Dictionary

power

noun pow·er \ˈpa(-ə)r\

Medical Definition of POWER

1
:  an inherent property or effect <a drug that enhances the heart's pumping power—Kathleen Fackelmann>
2
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears