An Encylopedia Britannica Company

power

1 power /ˈpawɚ/ noun
plural powers
1 power
/ˈpawɚ/
noun
plural powers
Britannica Dictionary definition of POWER
[noncount] : the ability or right to control people or things
often + over
[noncount] : political control of a country or area
see also black power, flower power
[count]
: a person or organization that has a lot of control and influence over other people or organizations
: a country that has a lot of influence and military strength see also great power, superpower, world power
[noncount]
: physical force or strength
often + of
: military force
see also balance of power, firepower, sea power
: the energy or force that someone or something can produce for movement, work, etc.
: an ability to do something
[count]
often + of
[noncount]
see also buying power, purchasing power, staying power
[noncount] : the ability to influence or affect people or things
often + of
see also drawing power, pulling power
: the right to do something : legal or official authority to do something
[count]
[noncount]
see also power of attorney
[noncount]
: energy that can be collected and used to operate machines
see also horsepower, manpower
: the electricity that people use
[count] mathematics
: the number of times that a number is to be multiplied by itself
: a number that results from multiplying a number by itself
[noncount] technical : the ability of an optical device (such as a telescope) to make objects look bigger

do (someone) a power of good

British, informal + old-fashioned
: to help someone physically or mentally : to make someone feel better

more power to you

(US) informal or British more power to your elbow
used to say that you approve of what someone is doing and hope it will be successful

the corridors/halls of power

: places where people talk about issues and make important decisions especially about political matters

the power behind the throne

: the person who secretly controls a country, organization, etc., by controlling the actions and decisions of the official leader

the powers that be

: the people who decide what is allowed or acceptable in a group, organization, etc.
power, authority, jurisdiction, command, and dominion mean the right or ability to govern, rule, or strongly influence people or situations.
power is a general word that suggests the ability to control or influence what is done, felt, etc.
authority suggests power that has been given to someone for a specific purpose and that has certain limits.
jurisdiction refers to official, legal power that has certain limits.
command refers to the power that someone (such as a military officer) has to make decisions and to force people to behave in a desired way.
dominion is a formal word that stresses the greatest or highest power or authority.
2 power /ˈpawɚ/ verb
powers; powered; powering
2 power
/ˈpawɚ/
verb
powers; powered; powering
Britannica Dictionary definition of POWER
[+ object] : to supply (something) with power usually used as (be) powered see also powered
always followed by an adverb or preposition : to move with great speed or force
[no object]
often used figuratively
[+ object]

power up

[phrasal verb]
power up (something) or power (something) up
: to make (a machine) ready for use by supplying it with electricity
3 power /ˈpawɚ/ adjective
3 power
/ˈpawɚ/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of POWER
always used before a noun
: of or relating to electrical power
: operated by using electricity rather than a person's strength
: having great strength or power
: involving important people who meet to discuss business or political affairs
of clothing : having a formal or impressive quality that is meant to make you look powerful and important