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ill, and her powers are failing. (=she no longer has all her natural abilities) | When he wrote that book, he was at the height of his powers as a writer. 5 [U] ability to have physical effect; force; strength: So enormous was the hurricane's power that it carried away whole buildings. 1 (fig.) We plan to increase our air power. (=get more military aircraft) | (fig.) Japan's industrial power 6 [U] force that can be used for doing work, driving a machine, or producing electricity: nuclear power | The engine is being specially adapted to increase its power. | 'This drill isn't working.' 'You haven't turned on the power.' (=electricity) → see also HORSEPOWER, MANPOWER 7 [U] a measure of the degree to which a microscope, TELESCOPE etc is able to make things seen through it look larger 8 [C] (sometimes cap.) a person, group, nation, spirit etc, that has influence or control: People say that Britain is no longer a world power. | He was only an ordinary MP when I first knew him, but these days he's quite a power in the land. (=someone with a lot of power and influence) | the powers of darkness (=the forces of the devil) → see also SUPERPOWER 9 [C] (in MATHEMATICS) the number of times that an amount is to be multiplied by itself: The amount 2 to the power of 3 is written 2³, and means 8. 10 [S+of] infml a large amount; lot: Your visit while I was ill did me a power of good. 11 more power to someone's elbow! infml, especially BrE good luck to someone! may someone's efforts succeed!: She's trying to get the boss to arrange a firm's party? Well, more power to her elbow! 12 power behind the throne someone who, though having no official position, has great private influence over a ruler or leader 13 power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely quote a phrase used by the English HISTORIAN Lord Acton 14 the power and the glory a phrase from the LORD'S PRAYER 15 the powers that be infml, often humor the unknown people in important official positions who make decisions that have an effect on one's life 16 power trip AmE derog an eagerness to use the power one has been given: Ever since he got that promotion he's been on a real power trip. 17 -powered /paʊəd||-ərd/ using, producing, or having the stated type or amount of POWER: a low-powered engine | a high-powered telescope → see also BALANCE OF POWER, BLACK POWER, HIGH-POWERED, STAYING POWER
power² v 1 [T usually pass.] to supply power to (especially a vehicle): The aircraft is powered by three jet engines. 2 [|+adv/ prep] infml to move powerfully and fast: The racing car powered down the home straight.
power³ adj [A] driven by a motor: a power saw/mower
,power-assisted 'steering n [U] POWER STEERING
'power base n an area, group etc that provides someone with a means of having influence: The President's political power base is in the west of the country.
pow·er·boat /'paʊəbəʊt||'paʊər-/ n a powerful MOTORBOAT, especially one for racing
'power ,broker n someone who controls the degree to which others have political influence, especially in affairs between nations
'power cut also power failure n a failure of the electricity supply: We got the gas stove because we were always getting power cuts.
'power dive n a steep downward movement of an aircraft with the engines working
'power ,dressing n [U] a way of dressing used especially in the 1980s by women to show that they are as able as men to have positions of power in society
'power ,failure n [C;U] power cut
pow·er·ful /'paʊəfəl||'paʊər-/ adj 1 able to produce great physical force: powerful muscles | a powerful engine | a powerful swimmer (=who can swim fast and/or a long way) 2 great in degree or effect: a powerful electric current | a powerful telescope | powerful drugs | Onions have a powerful smell. | a powerful imagination 3 having much control and influence: Powerful nations sometimes try to control weaker ones. | a powerful position in the government —ly adv: He's very powerfully built. (=has a big strong body)
pow·er·house /'paʊəhas||'paʊər-/ n pl. -houses /,haʊzɪz/ infml, usually apprec 1 a very strong person 2 [oft] a person or place that acts, thinks, or produces things with great forcefulness: an intellectual powerhouse | the idea of a university as a powerhouse of ideas
pow·er·less /'paʊələs||'paʊər-/ adj lacking power, strength, or ability: [+to-v] I was powerless to (=could not) prevent the accident. —ly adv —ness n [U]
'power line n a large wire carrying electricity over land or underground from where the electricity is produced to where it is used
'power-nap n a short sleep in the middle of the day that helps you to have more energy, do your job better, and make better decisions
,power of at'torney n [C;U] law (a signed official paper giving) the right to act for someone else in business or law
'power ,outage n AmE a period of time when there is no electricity supply → compare POWER FAILURE, POWER CUT
'power ,pack n [C] something that can provide power for a piece of electrical equipment, and which can be carried easily, for example a BATTERY
'power plant n 1 an engine and other parts which supply power to a factory, an aircraft, a car etc 2 especially AmE a POWER STATION
'power point also point, socket BrE || electric socket AmE — n especially BrE a piece of plastic or other material with holes in it, in Britain usually three square holes, in the US usually two, which is fixed into a wall and to which electrical equipment can be connected for the electricity supply
'power ,politics n [U] often derog (in international politics) the use or threat of armed force instead of peaceful argument
Pow·ers, Austin /'paʊəz||-ərz/ a character invented and played by the Canadian actor Mike Myers in a series of humorous films. Powers is a British SPY (=someone whose job is to find out secret information about another country) who wears 1960s clothes, has bad teeth, and often uses the phrase 'groovy, baby!'
'power ,sharing the sharing of political power by different groups in a society, especially a political arrangement in Northern Ireland in 1973 in which Catholics and Protestants shared in government. The arrangement did not end the troubles there, and ended in 1976.
'power ,shower n a SHOWER which has a very forceful flow of water
'power ,station also power plant especially AmE — n a large building in which electricity is made
'power ,steering n [U] (in a vehicle) a system for steering (STEER) which uses power from the vehicle's engine and therefore needs less effort from the driver
'power ,structure n the way in which the group of people who control a country, society, or organization are organized: the power structure of the company.
'power ,worker n a worker in the electricity-producing industry
pow·wow /'paʊ,waʊ/ n 1 a meeting or council of Native Americans 2 humor a meeting or discussion
Pow·ys /'paʊɪs/ a COUNTY in central Wales
pox /pɒks||pɑːks/ n 1 [the S] infml the disease SYPHILIS 2 [U] old use the disease SMALLPOX 3 a pox on old use (used for expressing complete disrespect for someone or something worthless): A pox on our enemies! → see also CHICKEN POX, COWPOX
pp written abbrev. for 1 pages: see pp 15-37 → see also P² 2 (written before the name of another person, when one is signing a letter for them)
P-plate /'piː pleɪt/ n a flat white square with a green letter P on it, that can be attached to the car of someone in the UK who has passed their driving test but who is not very experienced → compare L-PLATE
PPP /,piː piː 'piː/ n [C,U] abbrev. for PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNER-SHIP
PPS /,piː piː 'es/ n 1 p.p.s abbrev. for post postscriptum; a note added after a PS in a letter or message 2 Parliamentary Private Secretary; a member of the British parliament whose job is to help a minister