noun

1. ability to do, act, or produce
2. a specific ability or faculty the power of hearing
3. great ability to do, act, or affect strongly; vigor; force; strength
4. 1. the ability to control others; authority; sway; influence
   2. special authority assigned to or exercised by a person or group holding office
   3. legal ability or authority; also, a document giving it
5. a source of physical or mechanical force or energy; force or energy that is at, or can be put to, work electric power, water power
6. the rate at which work is done: abbrev. P
7. a person or thing having great influence, force, or authority
8. a nation, esp. one having influence or domination over other nations the great powers
9. national might or political strength
10. a spirit or divinity
11. Dialectal a large number or quantity (of something specified)
12. 1. Archaic an armed force; army; navy
    2. military strength air power
13. Math.
    1. the product of the multiplication of a quantity by itself 4 is the second power of 2 (2)
    2. exponent (sense )
14. Optics the degree of magnification of a lens, microscope, telescope, etc., expressed as a ratio of the diameters of image and object

Etymology: ME pouer < OFr poeir, earlier poter, orig. inf. < VL *potere, to be able, for L posse, to be able: see potent

transitive verb

adjective

1. operated by electricity, a fuel engine, etc. power tools, a power mower
2. served by an auxiliary, engine-powered system that reduces the effort of the operation power steering
3. carrying electricity power lines
4. of, for, or signifying persons in business or politics regarded as powerful a power lunch, a power suit