/ˈpaʊər/
Power has 16 different meanings across 3 categories:
Noun · Verb · Proper Noun
possession of controlling influence
"the deterrent power of nuclear weapons"
"the power of his love saved her"
"his powerfulness was concealed by a gentle facade"
(physics) the rate of doing work; measured in watts (= joules/second)
"The solar panels generate enough power to run our entire house during the winter months."
physical strength
"The weightlifter struggled to lift the barbell, but his raw power allowed him to complete the final rep just as the clock ran out."
a state powerful enough to influence events throughout the world
"The United Nations must negotiate with great powers like China and the US before launching any global initiative."
energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor
"they built a car that runs on electricity"
"The power went oout around midnight"
a very wealthy or powerful businessman
"an oil baron"
Ability to do or undergo something.
"I accidentally hit the power button while reaching for my controller and suddenly lost all my progress in the game."
A button of a computer, a video game console, or similar device, that when pressed, causes the device to be either shut down or powered up.
In plain English: Power is the ability to do something or make things happen.
"The power outage left everyone in the dark during the storm."
Usage: Although "power" often refers to energy or authority, it also denotes the specific button on an electronic device used to turn it on or off. Use this meaning when discussing the physical control switch found on computers, consoles, and appliances.
To provide power for (a mechanical or electronic device).
"The technician had to connect a generator to power the emergency lights during the storm."
In plain English: To power something means to give it the energy it needs to work.
"The storm knocked out the power in our neighborhood for several hours."
Usage: Use "power" as a verb when describing the act of supplying energy to a machine or device, such as powering a computer from an outlet. Do not use it to mean controlling someone's actions, which requires different verbs like influence or command.
Impressive.
"The sheer power of that waterfall left everyone standing silently in awe."
In plain English: Power as an adjective means having great strength or influence that makes something very strong or effective.
"The powerful new engine made the car go very fast."
Usage: Use power as an adjective only when describing something that strikes you with impressive force or grandeur, such as a powerful performance. It is not used to describe objects that simply have high energy or strong influence in general contexts.
A surname.
"My neighbor, Mr. Power, is bringing over some fresh bread for dinner tonight."
The word "power" entered English from Old French and originally meant "to be able to." It eventually replaced the native Old English word anweald to describe strength or authority.