high-power
|high-pow-er|
🇺🇸
/ˌhaɪˈpaʊɚ/
🇬🇧
/ˌhaɪˈpaʊə/
great strength or high output
Etymology
'high-power' originates in English as a compound of the adjective 'high' and the noun 'power'. 'High' comes from Old English 'hēah' meaning 'tall, lofty', and 'power' comes ultimately from Old French (e.g. 'poeir'/'povoir') derived from Latin roots related to 'being able'.
'high' developed from Old English 'hēah' through Middle English 'high'; 'power' passed from Old French into Middle English as forms like 'pouwer' and eventually became modern English 'power'. The compound 'high-power' formed in modern English usage to describe high output or great capability.
Initially, 'high' meant 'tall/lofty' and 'power' meant 'ability' or 'force'; over time the compound came to mean specifically 'great force or high output' (especially of devices or systems).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a state or condition of having high power or a device/system that delivers high power output.
The lab requires careful handling of the high-power used in the experiment.
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Adjective 1
having or producing a large amount of power; of high power output or great capability (often used in technical contexts, e.g., equipment).
They installed a high-power transmitter to boost the signal.
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Last updated: 2025/09/04 21:55