power

pow|er1 [ `pauər ] noun ***

▸ 1 ability to influence/do

▸ 2 political/legal control

▸ 3 physical force/strength

▸ 4 energy/electricity

▸ 5 in mathematics

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) uncount the ability to influence or control what people do or think:

Power within the company is divided between the directors and the shareholders.

the power of television advertising

power over: Her parents still have a lot of power over her.

power struggle (=an attempt by each of two people or groups to get control): a power struggle within the party

a ) uncount the ability to achieve something or make something happen:

purchasing/bargaining/earning power

beyond/outside your power: I had always believed such an achievement was beyond my power.

do everything in/within your power: Willis did everything within his power for his client.

b ) count or uncount a natural or unusual ability for doing something:

He has amazing powers of concentration.

the power to do something: Some people believed Rashad had the power to perform miracles.

2. ) count or uncount political control of a country or government:

The plan aims to strengthen presidential powers.

be in power: The ruling Social Democratic party has been in power for ten years.

seize power: Later that year, the generals seized power in a bloody coup.

a ) count or uncount official or legal authority to do something:

An appellate court has power to overturn the lower court's decision.

exercise your power (=use your authority): Under the dictatorship, the army was allowed to exercise vast powers.

abuse your power (=use your authority in a bad way): Local officials were found to be abusing their power.

b ) count a country that is able to influence other countries because of its economic or military strength:

China has emerged as a major economic power in Asia.

3. ) uncount physical force or strength:

The boy was thrown backward against a tree by the power of the blast.

the power of the crocodile's jaws

a ) the ability of a machine or vehicle to operate quickly and effectively:

I'm going to need a computer with more power.

4. ) uncount energy obtained from oil, coal, the sun, etc., used for operating equipment and machines:

solar power

a ) the supply of electricity to your home, office, community, etc.:

A wind generator provides power to the farm.

a power outage (=a situation in which there is no electricity): The power outage caused by the ice storm lasted 24 hours.

5. ) count used in mathematics for saying how many times you multiply a number by itself. For example 10 to the power of 3 means 10x10x10.

more power to someone SPOKEN

used for telling someone to do what they want, even though you doubt whether they can or should do it:

If you want to go to Peru alone, more power to you.

the powers that be

the people who control a situation. This expression usually shows that you do not agree with their decisions:

The powers that be have canceled the show.

=> POWER OF ATTORNEY, POWER TRIP

power

pow|er 2 [ `pauər ] verb

1. ) transitive to give a machine or vehicle power:

a new vehicle powered by fuel cells

2. ) intransitive power through/past MAINLY JOURNALISM to move very quickly, so that you defeat others:

She powered through the last lap of the race.

power

pow|er 3 [ `pauər ] adjective

1. ) operated by electricity or by a motor:

a power drill

2. ) OFTEN HUMOROUS relating to or involving important business people or deals:

She's gone to some power lunch to discuss the deal.