Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   power

   /ˈpaʊə/

   noun

   • 1. the ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way: "the power of speech" Similar abilitycapacitycapabilitypotentialpotentialityfacultypropertycompetencecompetencyOpposite inabilityincapacity
   • 2. the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events: "a political process that offers people power over their own lives"
   • ▪ political or social authority or control, especially that exercised by a government: "the party had been in power for eight years" Similar controlauthorityinfluencedominancemasterydominationrulecommandascendancysupremacydominionsovereigntyjurisdictionswayweightleverageholdgraspsayinformal:cloutpullbeefteethdragliterary:puissance
   • ▪ authority that is given or delegated to a person or body: "police do not have the power to stop and search" Similar authorityrightauthorizationwarrantlicenceprerogativefacultyinformal:say-so
   • ▪ 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" Similar statecountrynationworld powersuperpower
   • ▪ 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"
   • ▪ (in traditional Christian angelology) the sixth-highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.
   • ▪ denoting something associated with people who hold authority and influence, especially in the context of business or politics: informal "a red power tie"
   • ▪ used in the names of movements aiming to enhance the status of a specified group: "gay power"
   • 3. physical strength and force exerted by something or someone: "the power of the storm" Similar strengthpowerfulnessmightforceforcefulnessmightinessweightvigourenergyintensitypotencybrawnbrawninessmuscleinformal:punchwellyliterary:thewforcefulnesspowerfulnesspotencystrengthforceeloquenceeffectivenesscogencypersuasivenessimpressivenessauthoritativenessinformal:punchOpposite weaknessimpotence
   • ▪ capacity or performance of an engine or other device: "a surge of power from the engine" Similar driving forcehorsepowerhpaccelerationinformal:pokeoomphgrunt
   • ▪ 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.
   • 4. energy that is produced by mechanical, electrical, or other means and used to operate a device: "generating power from waste" Similar energyelectrical powernuclear powersolar powersteam powerwater powerinformal:juice
   • ▪ electrical energy supplied to an area, building, etc.: "30,000 homes were left without power"
   • ▪ driven by electrical energy: "a power drill"
   • 5. the rate of doing work, measured in watts or less frequently horse power.
   • 6. the product obtained when a number is multiplied by itself a certain number of times: "2 to the power of 4 equals 16"
   • 7. a large number or amount of something: dialect "there's a power of difference between farming now and when I was a lad" Similar a great deal ofa lot ofmuchinformal:lots ofloads ofheaps ofmasses oftons ofdated:a deal of

   verb

   • 1. supply (a device) with mechanical or electrical energy: "the car is powered by a fuel-injected 3.0-litre engine"
   • ▪ switch a device on or off: "the officer powered up the fighter's radar"
   • 2. move or travel with great speed or force: "he powered round a bend"
   • ▪ direct (something, especially a ball) with great force: "Nicholas powered a header into the net"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French poeir, from an alteration of Latin posse ‘be able’.

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • W

     4

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points