1. Possession of controlling influence
   "the deterrent power of nuclear weapons"; "the power of his love saved her";
   - powerfulness
    
2. Possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done
   "danger heightened his powers of discrimination";
   - ability
    
3. One possessing or exercising power or influence or authority
   "the mysterious presence of an evil power";
   - force
    
4. (of a government or government official) the status of currently holding an official or elected position and having the corresponding authority
   "during his first year in power"; "the power of the president";
   - office
    
5. (physics) the rate of doing work; measured in watts (= joules/second)
   "The power output of the solar panel varied with the intensity of sunlight"
    
6. A mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself
   "The power of 2 in 8 is 3";
   - exponent, index
    
7. Physical strength
   "The power of the heavyweight champion was intimidating to his opponents";
   - might, mightiness
    
8. A state powerful enough to influence events throughout the world
   "The country developed into a mighty world power"; "The United States is considered a major power in global politics"; "As a great power, the country played a significant role in international diplomacy";
   - world power, major power, great power, superpower
    
9. A very wealthy or powerful businessperson
   "an oil power";
   - baron, business leader, king, magnate, mogul, top executive, tycoon
    
10. Energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor
    "The power went out around midnight";
    - electricity, electrical energy, leccy [Brit, informal]
     
11. Electricity supply
    "The storm knocked out the power to several neighborhoods"

1. Supply the force or power for the functioning of
   "The petrol powers the engines"

Derived forms: powering, powers, powered

See also: able, powerful, powerless

Type of: body politic, bourgeois, businessperson, cater, causal agency, causal agent, cause, cognition, commonwealth, country, energy, free energy, land, mathematical notation, nation, noesis [technical], physical phenomenon, provide, put up, quality, res publica, state, strength, supply

Antonym: impotency

Encyclopedia: Power, Privilege and Justice