power

noun

• 1the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality:the power of speech [with infinitive]:the power to raise the dead (powers)his powers of concentration

• 2the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events:the idea that men should have power over women she had me under her power
• political or social authority or control, especially that exercised by a government:the party had been in power for eight years [as modifier]:a power struggle
• a right or authority that is given or delegated to a person or body:police do not have the power to stop and search emergency powers
• the military strength of a state:the sea power of Venice
• a state or country, especially one viewed in terms of its international influence and military strength:a great colonial power
• a person or organization that is strong or influential within a particular context:he was a power in the university
• a supernatural being, deity, or force:the powers of darkness
• (powers) (in traditional Christian angelology) the sixth highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.
• [as modifier] informal denoting something associated with people who hold authority and influence, especially in the context of business or politics:a red power tie
• [with modifier] used in the names of movements aiming to enhance the status of a specified group:gay power

• 3physical strength and force exerted by something or someone:the power of the storm
• capacity or performance of an engine or other device:he applied full power
• the capacity of something to affect the emotions or intellect strongly:the lyrical power of his prose
• [as modifier] denoting a sports player, team, or style of play that makes use of power rather than finesse:a power pitcher
• the magnifying capacity of a lens.

• 4energy that is produced by mechanical, electrical, or other means and used to operate a device:generating power from waste [as modifier]:power cables
• electrical energy supplied to an area, building, etc.:the power went off
• [as modifier] driven by electrical energy:a power drill
• Physics the time-rate of doing work, measured in watts or less frequently horsepower.

• 5 Mathematics the number of times a certain number is to be multiplied by itself:2 to the power of 4 equals 16

verb

• 1 [with object] supply (a device) with mechanical or electrical energy:the car is powered by a fuel-injected 3.0-liter engine [as adjectivein combination]: (-powered)a nuclear-powered submarine
• (power something up/down) switch a device on or off:the officer powered up the fighter’s radar

• 2 [no object] move or travel with great speed or force:they powered past the dock toward the mouth of the creek
• [with object] direct (something, especially a ball) with great force:Nicholas powered a header into the net