power-station

A power-station stands beside a wide river, generating electricity for the city.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A facility for generating electricity: "power-station" refers to an industrial plant where electrical power is generated, typically using fuels like coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, or renewable sources such as water or wind. This is the primary and most common meaning.
   • A building housing generators: More specifically, it denotes the building or complex that contains the machinery (generators, turbines) used to produce electric power.

Usage Examples

• (A facility that generates electrical power for a large area.)
• (The industrial building where generators are maintained.)

Advanced Usage

• "to operate a power-station": to manage and run the facility that generates electricity.

  • The company operates a coal-fired power-station. (The company manages a plant that burns coal to produce power.)

• "power-station capacity": the maximum amount of electricity a power-station can generate.

  • The power-station capacity has been increased to 500 megawatts. (The plant's maximum output has been raised.)

Variants and Related Words

• Power house (n): a building containing machinery for generating power; or, figuratively, a person or organization with great energy or influence.

  • The hydroelectric power house is located near the dam. (The building with the generating equipment.)
  • She is a power house of ideas in the company. (She is a highly energetic and influential person.)

• Power plant (n): a synonym for power-station, especially in American English.

  • The power plant uses natural gas to generate electricity. (The facility that produces power.)

Synonyms

• Generating station: a formal term for a power-station.
• Electric plant: a facility that produces electric power.
• Power facility: a general term for any structure where power is generated.

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms directly using "power-station," as it is a technical term. However, the figurative phrase "a power station of energy" can be used informally to describe a very energetic person.
  • After his coffee, he was a power station of energy. (He was extremely energetic and productive.)