▸ power up PHRASAL VERB When you power up something such as a computer or a machine, you connect it to a power supply and switch it on. □ [V P n] Simply power up your laptop and continue work. [Also V n P ]
po w|er base (power bases ) also power-base N‑COUNT [oft with poss] The power base of a politician or other leader is the area or the group of people from which they get most support, and which enables him or her to become powerful. □ Milan was Mr Craxi's home town and his power base.
power|boat /paʊ ə r boʊt/ (powerboats ) N‑COUNT A powerboat is a very fast, powerful motorboat.
po w|er bro|ker (power brokers ) N‑COUNT A power broker is someone who has a lot of influence, especially in politics, and uses it to help other people gain power. □ Jackson had been a major power broker in the 1988 Presidential elections.
po w|er cut (power cuts ) N‑COUNT A power cut is a period of time when the electricity supply to a particular building or area is stopped, sometimes deliberately. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use outage
po w|er fail|ure (power failures ) N‑VAR A power failure is a period of time when the electricity supply to a particular building or area is interrupted, for example because of damage to the cables.
pow|er|ful ◆◆◇ /paʊ ə r fʊl/
1 ADJ A powerful person or organization is able to control or influence people and events. □ You're a powerful man–people will listen to you. □ …Russia and India, two large, powerful countries.
2 → see also all-powerful
3 ADJ You say that someone's body is powerful when it is physically strong. □ Hans flexed his powerful muscles. ● pow|er|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He is described as a strong, powerfully-built man of 60.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A powerful machine or substance is effective because it is very strong. □ …powerful computer systems. □ …a powerful magnet. ● pow|er|ful|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ The substance is powerfully addictive.
5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A powerful smell is very strong. □ There was a powerful smell of garlic. ● pow|er|ful|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ The railway station smelt powerfully of cats and drains.
6 ADJ A powerful voice is loud and can be heard from a long way away. □ At that moment the housekeeper's powerful voice interrupted them, announcing a visitor.
7 ADJ You describe a piece of writing, speech, or work of art as powerful when it has a strong effect on people's feelings or beliefs. □ …Bleasdale's powerful 11-part drama about a corrupt city leader. ● pow|er|ful|ly ADV [ADV -ed, ADV after v] □ It's a play–painful, funny and powerfully acted. SYNONYMS powerful ADJ
1
influentiaclass="underline" It helps to have influential friends.
dominant: She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.
commanding: Right now you're in a more commanding position than you have been for ages.
3
strong: I'm not strong enough to carry him.
mighty: …a land marked with vast lakes and mighty rivers.
vigorous: Sir Robert was a strong and vigorous politician.
sturdy: She was a short, sturdy woman in her early sixties.
po w|er game (power games ) N‑COUNT [oft adj N ] You can refer to a situation in which different people or groups are competing for power as a power game , especially if you disapprove of the methods they are using in order to try to win power. □ …the dangerous power games following the dictator's death.
power|house /paʊ ə r haʊs/ (powerhouses ) N‑COUNT A powerhouse is a country or organization that has a lot of power or influence. □ The country is an economic powerhouse.
pow|er|less /paʊ ə r ləs/
1 ADJ Someone who is powerless is unable to control or influence events. □ If you don't have money, you're powerless. ● pow|er|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ If we can't bring our problems under control, feelings of powerlessness often ensue.
2 ADJ [ADJ to-inf] If you are powerless to do something, you are completely unable to do it. □ People are being murdered every day and I am powerless to stop it.
po w|er line (power lines ) N‑COUNT A power line is a cable, especially above ground, along which electricity is passed to an area or building.
po w|er of at|to r|ney N‑UNCOUNT Power of attorney is a legal document which allows you to appoint someone, for example a lawyer, to act on your behalf in specified matters.
po w|er plant (power plants ) N‑COUNT A power plant is the same as a power station .
po w|er play (power plays ) also power-play
1 N‑COUNT A power play is an attempt to gain an advantage by showing that you are more powerful than another person or organization, for example in a business relationship or negotiation. □ Their politics consisted of unstable power-plays between rival groups.
2 N‑UNCOUNT In a game of ice hockey, power play is a period of time when one team has more players because one or more of the other team is in the penalty box.
po w|er point (power points ) N‑COUNT A power point is a place in a wall where you can connect electrical equipment to the electricity supply. [BRIT ] in AM, usually use outlet , wall socket
po wer-sharing also power sharing N‑UNCOUNT Power-sharing is a political arrangement in which different or opposing groups all take part in government together.
po w|er sta|tion (power stations ) N‑COUNT A power station is a place where electricity is produced.