authority noun
1 sth with the power to give orders
ADJ. district, local, regional | government, public | education, health, military, planning, tax The government is urging education authorities to spend less money. | competent, lawful, relevant, statutory
AUTHORITY + VERB agree sth, claim sth, decide sth, deny sth, promise sth The local health authority denied negligence. | allow (sb) sth, give (sb) sth, grant (sb) sth The local authority has not granted planning permission.
2 power/right to give orders
ADJ. absolute, complete, full, supreme | governmental, judicial, legal, ministerial, parental, presidential
VERB + AUTHORITY have Parents have the authority to discipline their children. | assume He assumed full authority as tsar in 1689. | give sb | assert, demonstrate, establish, exercise, exert, show, use, wield The new manager obviously felt the need to demonstrate her authority. | delegate | give up, relinquish | abuse | challenge, defy, deny, rebel against, reject, undermine She had challenged my authority once too often. | usurp
AUTHORITY + NOUN figure adult authority figures such as parents and teachers
PREP. in ~ I need to talk to someone in authority. | under the ~ of This can only be done under the authority of the government minister. | without ~ He took the car without authority. | ~ over Central government has extensive authority over teachers.
PHRASES an air of authority He bore an air of authority. | position of authority She holds a position of authority in the local church.
3 person with special knowledge
ADJ. leading, respected, world | unimpeachable, unquestioned
VERB + AUTHORITY cite, invoke Copernicus justified his innovation by citing respected authorities.
PREP. ~ on She's a leading authority on genetics.
You can also check other dicts: authority (English, 中文解释 ), wordnet sense, Collins Definition