(1)能力 (ability to do or act) [U][N+to-inf， N(of)]： beyond/outside/not within sb's～to do sth 没有能力做某事;do everything in my～to comfort/help/console sb 尽力安慰/帮助/安慰某人;claim to have the～to see the future 声称有预见未来的能力;This animal has the～of changing its colour. 这种动物有变色的能力。the～to influence the government 影响政府的能力;a very strong～of rapid decision 很强的迅速作出决定的能力;〖同〗ability， capability， capacity;

(2) 1)(身体或心智的某种)机能(能力) (particular natural ability of the body or mind) [U; pl][N+to-inf， N(of)]： lose the～of speech/sight失去了说话的能力/视力;the～to talk/hear 说话/听的能力;have the～of seeing/to see in the dark 具有在黑暗中看东西的能力;affect sb's～(s) of concentration 影响某人的注意力;use one's～s of persuasion 尽力说服;〖同〗faculty，capability，capacity，competence; 2) (身体或心智的全部)机能(能力) (all the natural abilities of a person's body or mind) [pl]： a woman of great intellectual～s 一个智力超凡的女性;His～s are falling. 他的体力正在减退。tax one's～s 耗费自己的精力;John was at the height of his～s as a writer. 约翰正处于一个作家创作能力最强的时期。〖同〗faculty，capability，capacity，competence;

(3)力量(气) (force; strength) [U]： Knowledge is～. 知识就是力量。the～of a blow 一拳之力;the～of the sun/the storm 太阳/暴风雨的力量;muscle～肌肉力量;You could see the～in his big hands. 你可以看到他的手非常有力。A rabbit has great～in its back legs. 兔子的后腿非常有力。a story of great～(fig) 很有教益的故事;be defeated by the～of sb's oratory (fig) 被某人有力的雄辩所击败;〖同〗strength，force，might，potency，energy;

(4) 1)控制(影响)力 (control over others; influence) [U]： the～of the law/God 法律/上帝的力量;underestimate the～of the press 对新闻界的影响力估计不足;the～of the church in national affairs 教会在国家事务中的影响力;have sb in one's～控制某人;have～over sb/sb's fate 控制某人/某人的命运;fall into sb's～落入某人的控制中; 2)权力，政权，统治 (political control; rule) [U]： seize/take/gain～攫取/夺取/取得政权;the～of Congress 国会的权力;This government came in(to)～at the last election. 本届政府在上次大选后开始掌权。(country) be at the height of her～(国家)国势正强;Which political party is in～now? 现在是哪个政党在掌权?restore sb to～使某人重新掌权;〖同〗authority;

(5)权限，职权(right possessed by， or granted to， a person or group of persons; authorities) [C， 尤pl][N+to-inf]： the～s of the police/Prime Minister 警察/首相的职权;exceed one's～s 超出权限范围; have the～to sign company cheques 有在公司支票上签字的权力;have special～s to deal with the state of affairs/arrest anyone causing trouble 有对付这种事态/逮捕任何制造事端者的特别权力;curb sb's～s 抑制某人的权限;～of attorney 代理权，授权书，委托书;

(6)有权力(影响)的人(机构)，强(大)国 (person， group or state that has control or influence) [C]： a～in the government/firm 政府/公司里有影响力的人;No～on earth can make me do it. 任何有权有势的人也不能强迫我做那件事。world～s 世界强国;a great naval～一个海上强国;The press is a great～in this country. 新闻界在这个国家里有很大的影响力。the great～s 列强;the European/Western～s 欧洲/西方列强;～politics 强权政治;

(7) 1)(动)力 (force that may be used to do work) [U]： wind/water/electric/hydroelectric/steam/nuclear～风力/水力/电力/水电力/蒸汽动力/核动力;a cheap source of～便宜的能源;The lights flickered as the～was reduced. 由于电力不足， 灯光闪烁。the～supply 电力供应;～house 发电厂(站);非常健壮或精力充沛的人;～point 墙上的电源插座;～station 发电厂(站);〖同〗electricity; 2)由机械能或电能驱动的 (operated by mechanical or electrical energy) [U][作attrib]：～brakes/steering 动力助动刹车器/转向;～tools 电动工具; 3)(指发动机等的)功率 (capacity or performance of an engine， machine， etc) [U]： the terrifying～of the huge machine 那台大型机器的惊人功率;a car's～of acceleration 汽车的加速功率;What is the～of this engine? 这台发动机的功率是多少?

(8)幂，乘方 (result of multiplying a number by itself a stated number of times) [C， 尤sing]： the second/third/fourth～of x x的二/三/四次方;4³ represents four to the～of three. 4³表示4的3次方。

(9)(放大镜或其他光学仪器的)放大率 (magnifying capacity of a lens or other optical instrument) [U]： the～of a microscope/a telescope 显微镜/望远镜的放大倍数;a telescope of high～高倍望远镜;

(10)神(仙) (good or evil spirit) [C]： believe in the existence of benevolent～相信有善良的神仙存在;the～s of darkness 邪恶的势力;

do sb a power of good 对某人很有帮助(益处)(infml)： The medicine did his headache a～of good. 这种药对他的头痛很有疗效。

more power to sb's elbow (表示鼓励或赞同的用语)加把劲，使劲干吧 (infml)： So he's decided to go to university， in spite of what his father says? More～to his elbow! 这么说，不管他父亲说什么他已下定决心上大学了?给他鼓鼓劲!

the (real) power behind the throne 幕后真正有影响力的人： The cardinal was the real～behind the throne. 红衣主教是在王位背后掌握实权的人。

the powers that be 当局(者)： Whenever we want to have a party in our flat we have to ask permission from the～s that be. 每当我们想在公寓里聚会时都要得到当局的批准。

→′powered adj 以……为动力的，有动力的;′powerful adj (强)有力的;效力(作用)大的;结实(健壮)的;权(势)大的;′powerfully adv (强)有力地;效力(作用)大地;结实(健壮)地;权(势)大地;′powerless adj 无(能)力的;无权力的;′powerlessly adv 无(能)力地;无权力地;′powerlessness n 无(能)力;无权力;′power-͵boat n 汽艇，摩托艇;′power-dive n (飞机)动力俯冲;

【辨异】power与force、strength和might²的区别见FORCE。