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
Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
With its old-school vibe and endless pow, Powder Mountain—PowMo as it’s affectionately called—is one of the largest ski resorts in North America, with some of the most skiable acres in the U.S.
—Kathleen Rellihan, Outside, 4 Sep. 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
Karwacki's remains were sent to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in June 2024.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
With its old-school vibe and endless pow, Powder Mountain—PowMo as it’s affectionately called—is one of the largest ski resorts in North America, with some of the most skiable acres in the U.S.
—Kathleen Rellihan, Outside, 4 Sep. 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 6 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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