ˌpē-(ˌ)ō-ˈdə-bəl-(ˌ)yü 
-bə-(ˌ)yü;
-ˈdəb-(ˌ)yü
Powassan (virus)
According to a Center for Disease Control spokeswoman, POW virus can infect the central nervous system and cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).—
Rick Murphy
Rick MurphyThere is no specific treatment, but people with severe POW virus illnesses often need to be hospitalized to receive respiratory support, intravenous fluids, or medications to reduce swelling in the brain.—Kathryn Gallerani
Kathryn GalleraniExamples of pow in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
The Hot Springs Shuttle offers a safe and easy ride when you’re done slaying the pow.
—Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 28 Feb. 2025
Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
Renae Barber, the owner of POW Restaurant and Lounge in Miami Gardens, said customer safety and gun safety are important to her.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pow
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Noun
The young husband looking for his wife in the ashes, the Mitsubishi engineer who survived both bombings, the Scottish POW, and many more.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
The Hot Springs Shuttle offers a safe and easy ride when you’re done slaying the pow.
—Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
An effort by Coronado Navy wives to bring back their prisoner of war husbands from Vietnam is solidified with the creation of the National League of POW/MIA Families.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
Renae Barber, the owner of POW Restaurant and Lounge in Miami Gardens, said customer safety and gun safety are important to her.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pow
Cite this Entry
“Pow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pow. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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POW
nounMedical Definition
POW
abbreviation
Powassan (virus)
According to a Center for Disease Control spokeswoman, POW virus can infect the central nervous system and cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).—Rick Murphy
Rick MurphyThere is no specific treatment, but people with severe POW virus illnesses often need to be hospitalized to receive respiratory support, intravenous fluids, or medications to reduce swelling in the brain.—Kathryn Gallerani
Kathryn GalleraniLove words? Need even more definitions?
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