Definitions for power
ˈpaʊ ərpow·er

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 12 votes)Rate this definition:

1. power, powerfulnessnoun

   possession of controlling influence

   "the deterrent power of nuclear weapons"; "the power of his love saved her"; "his powerfulness was concealed by a gentle facade"

2. powernoun

   (physics) the rate of doing work; measured in watts (= joules/second)

3. ability, powernoun

   possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done

   "danger heightened his powers of discrimination"

4. office, powernoun

   (of a government or government official) holding an office means being in power

   "being in office already gives a candidate a great advantage"; "during his first year in office"; "during his first year in power"; "the power of the president"

5. power, forcenoun

   one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority

   "the mysterious presence of an evil power"; "may the force be with you"; "the forces of evil"

6. exponent, power, indexnoun

   a mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself

7. might, mightiness, powernoun

   physical strength

8. world power, major power, great power, power, superpowernoun

   a state powerful enough to influence events throughout the world

9. baron, big businessman, business leader, king, magnate, mogul, power, top executive, tycoonverb

   a very wealthy or powerful businessman

   "an oil baron"

10. powerverb

    supply the force or power for the functioning of

    "The gasoline powers the engines"

Wiktionary(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. powernoun

   physical force or strength.

   He needed a lot of power to hit the ball out of the stadium.

   Etymology: From power.

2. powernoun

   control, particularly legal or political (jurisdiction)

   2005, Columbia Law Review, April

   Etymology: From power.

3. powernoun

   electricity or a supply of electricity.

   After the pylons collapsed, this town was without power for a few days.

   Etymology: From power.

4. powernoun

   A measure of the rate of doing work or transferring energy.

   Etymology: From power.

5. powernoun

   A rate to magnify an optical image by a lens or mirror.

   We need a microscope with higher power.

   Etymology: From power.

6. powernoun

   In Christian angelology, the fourth level of angels, ranked above archangels and below principalities

   Etymology: From power.

7. powernoun

   A product of equal factors. Notation and usage: x, read as "x to the power of n" or "x to the nth power", denotes x x ... x, in which x appears n times, where n is called the exponent; the definition is extended to non-integer and complex exponents.

   Etymology: From power.

8. powernoun

   Cardinality.

   Etymology: From power.

9. powerverb

   To provide power for (a mechanical or electronic device).

   This CD player is powered by batteries.

   Etymology: From power.

10. powerverb

    To hit or kick something forcefully.

    Etymology: From power.

11. powernoun

    The probability that a statistical test will reject the null hypothesis when the alternative hypothesis is true.

    Etymology: From power.

12. Powernoun

    A button of a computer, a video game console, or similar device, that when pressed, causes the device to be either shut down or powered up.

    Etymology: From power.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Powernoun

   same as Poor, the fish

   Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

2. Powernoun

   ability to act, regarded as latent or inherent; the faculty of doing or performing something; capacity for action or performance; capability of producing an effect, whether physical or moral: potency; might; as, a man of great power; the power of capillary attraction; money gives power

   Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

3. Powernoun

   ability, regarded as put forth or exerted; strength, force, or energy in action; as, the power of steam in moving an engine; the power of truth, or of argument, in producing conviction; the power of enthusiasm

   Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

4. Powernoun

   capacity of undergoing or suffering; fitness to be acted upon; susceptibility; -- called also passive power; as, great power of endurance

   Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

5. Powernoun

   the exercise of a faculty; the employment of strength; the exercise of any kind of control; influence; dominion; sway; command; government

   Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

6. Powernoun

   the agent exercising an ability to act; an individual invested with authority; an institution, or government, which exercises control; as, the great powers of Europe; hence, often, a superhuman agent; a spirit; a divinity

   Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

7. Powernoun

   a military or naval force; an army or navy; a great host

   Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

8. Powernoun

   a large quantity; a great number; as, a power o/ good things

   Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

9. Powernoun

   the rate at which mechanical energy is exerted or mechanical work performed, as by an engine or other machine, or an animal, working continuously; as, an engine of twenty horse power

   Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

10. Powernoun

    a mechanical agent; that from which useful mechanical energy is derived; as, water power; steam power; hand power, etc

    Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

11. Powernoun

    applied force; force producing motion or pressure; as, the power applied at one and of a lever to lift a weight at the other end

    Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

12. Powernoun

    a machine acted upon by an animal, and serving as a motor to drive other machinery; as, a dog power

    Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

13. Powernoun

    the product arising from the multiplication of a number into itself; as, a square is the second power, and a cube is third power, of a number

    Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

14. Powernoun

    mental or moral ability to act; one of the faculties which are possessed by the mind or soul; as, the power of thinking, reasoning, judging, willing, fearing, hoping, etc

    Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

15. Powernoun

    the degree to which a lens, mirror, or any optical instrument, magnifies; in the telescope, and usually in the microscope, the number of times it multiplies, or augments, the apparent diameter of an object; sometimes, in microscopes, the number of times it multiplies the apparent surface

    Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

16. Powernoun

    an authority enabling a person to dispose of an interest vested either in himself or in another person; ownership by appointment

    Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

17. Powernoun

    hence, vested authority to act in a given case; as, the business was referred to a committee with power

    Etymology: [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.]

Freebase(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Power

   In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. The unit of power is the joule per second, known as the watt. For example, the rate at which a light bulb transforms electrical energy into heat and light is measured in watts—the more wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit time. Energy transfer can be used to do work, so power is also the rate at which this work is performed. The same amount of work is done when carrying a load up a flight of stairs whether the person carrying it walks or runs, but more power is expended during the running because the work is done in a shorter amount of time. The output power of an electric motor is the product of the torque the motor generates and the angular velocity of its output shaft. The power expended to move a vehicle is the product of the traction force of the wheels and the velocity of the vehicle. The integral of power over time defines the work done. Because this integral depends on the trajectory of the point of application of the force and torque, this calculation of work is said to be path dependent.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Power

   pow′ėr, n. that in a person or a thing which enables them to act on other persons or things: strength: energy: faculty of the mind: any agency: moving force of anything: right to command: rule: authority: influence: ability: capacity of suffering: a ruler: a divinity: the result of the continued multiplication of a quantity by itself any given number of times: (optics) magnifying strength: (obs.) a great many.—adjs. Pow′ered, having power; Pow′erful, having great power: mighty: intense: forcible: efficacious.—adv. Pow′erfully.—ns. Pow′erfulness; Pow′er-house, a house where mechanical power (esp. electric) is generated.—adj. Pow′erless, without power: weak: impotent.—adv. Pow′erlessly.—ns. Pow′erlessness; Pow′er-loom, a loom worked by some mechanical power, as water, steam, &c.—Power of attorney (see Attorney); Power of sale, a clause in securities and wills empowering property referred to to be sold on certain conditions; Powers, or Great Powers (see Great).—Absolute power, power subject to no control by law; Civil power, power of governing a state; Mechanical powers (see Mechanical). [O. Fr. poer (Fr. pouvoir)—Low L. pot-ĕre, to be able.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. power

   Mechanical force; in the steam-engine it is esteemed effective, expansive, or full. (See HORSE-POWER.)

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. power

   In military affairs as well as in all others, is knowledge—of human passions—of arms—of distance—of the skill and numbers of an enemy. To be in the power of an enemy, is to have taken up, injudiciously, such a position as to expose you to a defeat whenever the enemy may think proper to attack you.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. power

   Able to do, think or move.

   They had the powers to learn and shift perception.

   Submitted by MaryC on January 15, 2020  

2. power

   The ability for energy to change, transfer, transform, move or have usage.

   Solar Power is such an effective and efficient form of power and it is free and clean too.

   Submitted by MaryC on December 27, 2019  

3. power

   The ability or capacity to do

   Power is to be used so wisely in society.

   Submitted by MaryC on December 27, 2019  

4. power

   The capacity of a system or machine to function.

   The machine was capable of 1500 horse power.

   Submitted by MaryC on December 27, 2019  

5. power

   The efficient energy by which a system or machine functions or works.

   The machine and lights worked from solar power.

   Submitted by MaryC on December 27, 2019  

6. power

   The official capacity to use authority.

   Power from a governmental perspective is vital for politicians to perform their duties.

   Submitted by MaryC on December 27, 2019  

Matched Categories

1. • Causal Agent
   • Cognition
   • Government
   • Mathematical Notation
   • Physical Phenomenon
   • Physics
   • Quality
   • State
   • Strength
   • Supply

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'power' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #257

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'power' in Written Corpus Frequency: #652

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'power' in Nouns Frequency: #47

How to pronounce power?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say power in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of power in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of power in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of power in a Sentence

1. Daniel Pinkston:

   They have an incentive to exaggerate their capabilities -- particularly for their domestic audience -- to demonstrate awe and power, but we don't know the exact capabilities.

2. Deodatta V. Shenai-Khatkhate:

   The word "GURU" stands for Philosophical and Spiritual Guide. Interestingly, in its spelling (GURU) is embedded the hidden message "Gee, you are you", i. e. the knowledge and guidance is with no one else but you. You are truly the part of the same Supreme Power that created you. Hence the knowledge and guidance that you are seeking from outside is really within you, in your deep inner mind where lies that divine spark of intelligence from the Supreme Power. Really and truly, you are the best guide, the best spiritual leader that you can find for yourself. Seek within, and believe in yourself - always! The path of illumination always begins at this very juncture of Self-realization, and recognition of the Supreme Power within.

3. Nancy Pelosi:

   The Speaker of the House has awesome power. I know that. I've been there, the fact, though, is that power is not to be squandered.

4. Kim Jong:

   No matter who is in power in the U.S., the true nature of the U.S. and its fundamental policies towards North Korea never change.

5. Angus MacNeil:

   If we don't invest in the infrastructure needed for carbon capture and storage technology now, it could be much more expensive to meet our climate change targets in the future, getting the infrastructure in place takes time and the government needs to ensure that we can start fitting gas-fired power stations with carbon capture and storage technology in the 2020s.

Images & Illustrations of power

Popularity rank by frequency of use