Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - powerful

~ adj 1 »IMPORTANT« a powerful person, organization, group etc is able to control and influence events and other people's actions  (The president is the most powerful man in America and probably the world. | a powerful consortium of European companies) 2 »AFFECTING SB'S FEELINGS/IDEAS« having a strong effect on someone's feelings or on the way they think  (Jealousy is such a powerful emotion. | a powerful speech | The film uses a powerful blend of images and words. | powerful reasons/arguments (=reasons that make you think that something must be true)) 3 »MACHINE/WEAPON ETC« a powerful machine, engine, weapon etc works very effectively and quickly or with great force  (a new generation of more powerful PCs | The Jaguar XJ 12 features a powerful 24 valve engine.) 4 »MEDICINE« a powerful medicine or drug has a very strong effect on your body  (The drug is a thousand times more powerful than LSD.) 5 »PHYSICALLY STRONG« physically strong  (Jed was a powerful, well-built man. | powerful jaws that can kill in seconds) 6 »TEAM/ARMY ETC« a powerful team, army etc is very strong and can easily defeat other teams or armies  (The Allies had assembled a powerful fighting force.) 7 »LIGHT/SOUND/TASTE/SMELL« very strong, bright, loud etc  (The alarm emits a powerful high-pitched sound.) 8 »EXPLOSION/KICK/PUNCH ETC« a powerful blow, explosion etc hits someone with a lot of force or has a lot of force  (an explosion ten times more powerful than Hiroshima | a powerful header just over the bar) - powerfully adv  (Christie is very powerfully built.)  (- see also all­powerful)