force

noun (PHYSICAL)

/fɔːs/

/fɔːrs/

Definition

B2 [U] physical, especially violent, strength, or power: The force of the wind had brought down a great many trees in the area. She slapped his face with unexpected force. Teachers aren't allowed to use force in controlling their pupils. The police were able to control the crowd by sheer force of numbers (= because there were more police than there were people in the crowd).Energy, force and powerPower and intensityPower and intensityEnergy, force and power in force › in large numbers: Photographers were out in force at the palace todayMasses and large amounts of things › [C or U] specialized in scientific use, (a measure of) the influence that changes movement: the force of gravityEnergy, force and powerPower and intensity combine/join forces C2 to work with someone else in order to achieve something that you both wantHelping and co-operatingCreating alliances

(Definition of force noun (PHYSICAL) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)