ability to do or act; capability of doing something: [uncountable]He no longer had the power to speak after his stroke.[countable]at the height of his powers as a pitcher.
political or national strength:[uncountable]the balance of power in Europe.
great or marked ability to do or act:[uncountable]the power of nature.
the act of having control over others:[uncountable]holding power over people's minds.
political control in the government of a country, state, etc.:[uncountable]He was in power during the worst recession in history.
authority granted to a person or persons in a particular capacity: [countable]the powers of the president to command the military.[uncountable]It's not in my power to help you.
[countable] a person or thing that has authority:Can you convince the powers upstairs that your plan will succeed?See powers that be below.
a state or nation having authority or influence:[countable]The great powers met to decide the fate of the small country.
Physics[uncountable]work done or energy transferred.
Mechanics mechanical or electrical energy as distinguished from hand labor:[uncountable]hydroelectric power.
ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something.
political or national strength:the balance of power in Europe.
great or marked ability to do or act; strength; might; force.
the possession of control or command over others; authority; ascendancy:power over men's minds.
political ascendancy or control in the government of a country, state, etc.:They attained power by overthrowing the legal government.
legal ability, capacity, or authority:the power of attorney.
delegated authority; authority granted to a person or persons in a particular office or capacity:the powers of the president.
a document or written statement conferring legal authority.
a person or thing that possesses or exercises authority or influence.
a state or nation having international authority or influence:The great powers held an international conference.
a military or naval force:The Spanish Armada was a mighty power.
Often, powers. a deity; divinity:the heavenly powers.
Religionpowers, [Theol.]an order of angels. Cf. angel (def. 1).
Slang Terms[Dial.]a large number or amount:There's a power of good eatin' at the church social.
Physics
work done or energy transferred per unit of time. Symbol: P
the time rate of doing work.
Mechanicsmechanical energy as distinguished from hand labor:a loom driven by power.
Physics, Mechanicsa particular form of mechanical or physical energy:hydroelectric power.
Mechanicsenergy, force, or momentum:The door slammed shut, seemingly under its own power.
Mathematics
the product obtained by multiplying a quantity by itself one or more times:The third power of 2 is 8.
(of a number x) a number whose logarithm is a times the logarithm of x (and is called the a th power of x). Symbolically, y = xa is a number that satisfies the equation log y = a log x.
the exponent of an expression, as a in xa.
See cardinal number (def. 2).
Optics
the magnifying capacity of a microscope, telescope, etc., expressed as the ratio of the diameter of the image to the diameter of the object. Cf. magnification (def. 2).
the reciprocal of the focal length of a lens.
Idiomsthe powers that be, those in supreme command; the authorities:The decision is in the hands of the powers that be.
v.t.
Electricityto supply with electricity or other means of power:Atomic energy powers the new submarines.
to give power to; make powerful:An outstanding quarterback powered the team in its upset victory.
to inspire; spur; sustain:A strong faith in divine goodness powers his life.
Mechanics, Electricity(of a fuel, engine, or any source able to do work) to supply force to operate (a machine):An electric motor powers this drill.
to drive or push by applying power:She powered the car expertly up the winding mountain road.
Computingpower down, to shut off.
Computingpower up, to turn on.
adj.
Electricityoperated or driven by a motor or electricity:a power mower; power tools.
power-assisted:His new car has power brakes and power windows.
Electricityconducting electricity:a power cable.
Informal Termsexpressing or exerting power; characteristic of those having authority or influence:to host a power lunch.
Vulgar Latin *potēre (replacing Latin posse to be able, have power). See potent1
Anglo-French poueir, poer, noun, nominal use of infinitive: to be able
Middle English pouer(e), poer(e) 1250–1300
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged capacity.
3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged energy. See strength.
4, 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged sway, rule, sovereignty.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged incapacity.
(often plural)a specific ability, capacity, or faculty
political, financial, social, etc, force or influence
control or dominion or a position of control, dominion, or authority
a state or other political entity with political, industrial, or military strength
a person who exercises control, influence, or authority: a power in the state
a prerogative, privilege, or liberty
legal authority to act, esp in a specified capacity, for another
the document conferring such authority
a military force
military potential
the value of a number or quantity raised to some exponent
another name forexponent4
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
a measure of the rate of doing work expressed as the work done per unit time. It is measured in watts, horsepower, etc Symbol: P
the rate at which electrical energy is fed into or taken from a device or system. It is expressed, in a direct-current circuit, as the product of current and voltage and, in an alternating-current circuit, as the product of the effective values of the current and voltage and the cosine of the phase angle between them. It is measured in watts
(as modifier): a power amplifier
the ability to perform work
mechanical energy as opposed to manual labour
(as modifier): a power mower
a particular form of energy: nuclear power
a measure of the ability of a lens or optical system to magnify an object, equal to the reciprocal of the focal length. It is measured in dioptres