pow‧er 1 S1 W1 / paʊə $ paʊr / 名词
1 control [不可数名词] the ability or right to control people or events → powerful , powerless
power over
People should have more power over the decisions that affect their lives.
power-mad/power-crazy/power-hungry (= wanting too much power )
power-hungry politicians
2 government [不可数名词] the position of having political control of a country or government
in power
The voters have once again shown their support for the party in power.
come/rise to power (= start having political control )
De Gaulle came to power in 1958.
They seized power in a military coup.
3 influence [不可数名词] the ability to influence people or give them strong feelings → powerful , powerless
power of
the power of his writing
the immense power of television
the pulling power (= ability to attract people or attention ) of major celebrities
student/black/consumer etc power (= the political or social influence a particular group has )
4 right/authority [可数和不可数名词] the right or authority to do something :
The police have been given special powers to help them in the fight against terrorism.
power to do something
The committee has the power to order an enquiry.
power of arrest/veto etc
The chairman has the power of veto on all decisions.
5 ability [可数和不可数名词] a natural or special ability to do something :
After the accident she lost the power of speech (= ability to speak ) .
powers of observation/concentration/persuasion
a writer’s powers of observation
your mental powers
a stone with magical powers
6 energy [不可数名词] energy that can be used to make a machine work or to make electricity
nuclear/wind/solar etc power
Many people are opposed to the use of nuclear power.
the search for renewable sources of power
under power
The ship was able to leave port under its own power (= without help from another machine, ship etc ) .
7 earning/purchasing/bargaining etc power the ability to earn money, buy things etc :
Property in the city is beyond the purchasing power of most people.
your bargaining power in pay negotiations
8 strength [不可数名词] the physical strength or effect of something → powerful :
the power of a cheetah’s long legs
The power of the explosion smashed windows across the street.
9 electricity [不可数名词] electricity that is used in houses, factories etc :
Make sure the power is switched off first.
power cut/failure/outage (= a short time when the electricity supply is not working )
Parts of the country have had power cuts because of the storms.
The power came back on.
10 air/sea power the number of planes or ships that a country has available to use in a war
11 strong country [可数名词] a country that is strong and important and can influence events, or that has a lot of military strength → powerful , powerless :
Egypt is still a major power in the Middle East.
world power (= a country that can influence events in different parts of the world )
12 be in/within sb’s power (to do something) if it is in someone’s power to do something, they have the authority or ability to do it :
I wish it was within my power to change the decision.
do everything/all in your power
The ambassador promised to do everything in his power to get the hostages released.
13 be beyond sb’s power (to do something) if it is beyond someone’s power to do something, they do not have the authority or ability to do it :
It’s beyond the power of the court to make such a decision.
14 be in sb’s power literary to be in a situation in which someone has complete control over you
15 do somebody a power of good British English informal to make someone feel more healthy, happy, and hopeful about the future :
It looks as if your holiday has done you a power of good.
16 mathematics [可数名词] if a number is increased to the power of three, four, five etc, it is multiplied by itself three, four, five etc times
17 the powers that be the unknown people who have important positions of authority and power, and whose decisions affect your life :
The powers that be don’t want the media to get hold of the story.
18 lens [不可数名词] technical the ability of a lens , for example in a pair of glass es or a microscope , to make things look bigger
19 the powers of good/evil/darkness unknown or magical forces that people believe can influence events in a good or evil way
20 a power in the land old-fashioned someone who has a lot of power and influence in a country
21 the power behind the throne someone who secretly controls and influences decisions made by the leader or government of a country, but who does not have an official government position
22 power trip informal if you are on a power trip, you are enjoying your power or authority in a way that other people think is unpleasant
→ staying power , balance of power , high-powered
COLLOCATIONS
动词
have power People who have power never seem to use it to help others.
get/gain power Women were trying to gain power in a male-dominated world.
use your power ( also exercise (your) power formal ) The party will use all its power and influence to raise the issue in the Senate. | Questions have been asked about the way the police exercised their power.
wield power formal (= use power - used when someone has a lot of power ) The Church still wields enormous power in the country.
形容词
great/huge/enormous The central banks have huge power.
limited The king’s power was limited.
political/economic/military power countries with little economic power
absolute power (= total power, with no limits ) Parents had absolute power over children in those days.
unbridled power (= without any controls ) Certain wealthy men exercised unbridled power.
real power The real power lay with the President’s advisers.
短语
a power struggle (= a situation in which groups or leaders try to get control ) The country is locked in a power struggle between forces favouring and opposing change.
the balance of power There has been a shift in the balance of power between the two countries.
a position of power (= a job or role that gives someone power ) Many of them were using their positions of power for personal advantage.
an abuse of power (= a wrong or unfair use of power ) This cover-up is a scandalous abuse of power.
COLLOCATIONS
动词
be in power The law was passed when the Democrats were in power.
come to power (= start being in control ) Tony Blair came to power in 1997.
take power (= start being in control, usually without an election ) Many people fled after the military took power last September.
seize power (= take power by force ) His son seized power in a military coup.
assume power formal (= take power ) He assumed power after the assassination of the former president.
win power (= win an election ) The Prime Minister is facing his toughest challenge since winning power.
rise to power The Roman emperor Vespasian rose to power through command of an army.
return/be returned to power (= start being in control again, usually after an election ) The party was returned to power with a reduced majority.
hold power (= be in power ) Economic disaster befell the country during the decade when he held power.
restore somebody to power (= put someone in control of a country again ) In 2004, the army restored him to power.
sweep to power (= win an election easily ) Reagan swept to power by promising reforms.
cling to power (= not lose it, or try not to lose it ) Mao Tse-tung, the leader of the 1949 Communist revolution, clung to power for 27 years.
短语
sb’s rise to power The programme examines Saddam Hussein’s rise to power.
sb’s return to power Churchill’s return to power had an immediate effect upon Anglo-American relations.
COLLOCATIONS
形容词
mental powers Is it possible to enhance your mental powers?
creative powers A music teacher should have a real interest in developing children’s creative powers.
healing powers The water was supposed to have healing powers.
magical/special/miraculous powers Diamonds were once thought to have magical powers.
短语
the power of speech I was so surprised that I momentarily lost the power of speech.
the power of flight Some birds have lost the power of flight over millions of years.
powers of observation Experience improves our powers of observation, since it teaches us what to look for.
powers of concentration As you get older, your powers of concentration may decrease.
powers of persuasion She used all her powers of persuasion to convince Tilly that the move was a good idea.
be at the height of your powers (= be at a time in your life when your abilities are strongest ) Fonteyn was still at the height of her powers as a dancer.
动词
lose a power He was a brilliant speaker, who never lost the power to influence people.
sb’s powers are failing/waning (= becoming less good ) Mark felt that his creative powers were waning.
COLLOCATIONS
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + power
nuclear power The accident raised doubts about the safety of nuclear power.
solar power (= energy produced by sunlight ) They use solar power for all their heating.
wind power (= energy produced by the wind ) Is wind power the answer to the energy crisis?
wave power (= energy produced by waves in the sea ) Wave power can be used to generate electricity.
hydroelectric power (= energy produced by flowing water ) The factory is run on hydroelectric power.
steam power (= energy produced from steam ) Early engines were driven by steam power.
短语
a source of power One problem is their reliance on coal as the main source of power.
COLLOCATIONS
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + power
a great power Britain wanted to maintain her status as a great power.
a major power (= very important one ) There will be representatives from all the world’s major powers at the conference.
a world power (= one with influence all over the world ) The United States had replaced Great Britain as the dominant world power.
a military/naval power (= with a very strong army or navy ) Russia had become a naval power equal to Spain.
a foreign power He was charged with spying for a foreign power.
THESAURUS
country an area of land controlled by its own government, president, king etc : Thailand is a beautiful country. | Which country would you most like to visit?
nation a country, considered especially in relation to its people and its political and economic structure : The events shocked the whole nation. | The US is the most powerful nation in the world. | Leaders of the world’s major industrialized nations attended the meeting.
state a country considered as a political organization with its own government : They believe that Scotland should be an independent sovereign state. | Most European states joined the Council of Europe.
power a country that is very strong and important : a meeting of the great powers | Britain is still a world power .
superpower one of the most powerful countries in the world : During the Cuban Missile Crisis there was a real danger of conflict between the two world superpowers.
land literary a country – used in stories : He told them about his journeys to foreign lands. | a traveller from a far-off land