capacity

[ kuh-pas-i-tee ]

noun

, plural ca·pac·i·ties.

1. the ability to receive or contain:

   This hotel has a large capacity.

2. the maximum amount or number that can be received or contained; cubic contents; volume:

   The inn is filled to capacity.

   The gasoline tank has a capacity of 20 gallons.

   Synonyms: amplitude

3. power of receiving impressions, knowledge, etc.; mental ability:

   the capacity to learn calculus.

   Synonyms: talent, endowment

4. actual or potential ability to perform, yield, or withstand:

   He has a capacity for hard work.

   The capacity of the oil well was 150 barrels a day.

   She has the capacity to go two days without sleep.

   Synonyms: capability, competence, adequacy, aptitude

5. quality or state of being susceptible to a given treatment or action:

   Steel has a high capacity to withstand pressure.

6. position; function; role:

   He served in the capacity of legal adviser.

7. legal qualification.
8. Electricity.
   1. capacitance.
   2. maximum possible output.

adjective

1. reaching maximum capacity:

   a capacity audience;

   a capacity crowd.

capacity

/ kəˈpæsɪtɪ /

noun

1. the ability or power to contain, absorb, or hold
2. the amount that can be contained; volume

   a capacity of six gallons

3. 1. the maximum amount something can contain or absorb (esp in the phrase filled to capacity )
   2. ( as modifier )

      a capacity crowd

4. the ability to understand or learn; aptitude; capability

   he has a great capacity for Greek

5. the ability to do or produce (often in the phrase at capacity )

   the factory's output was not at capacity

6. a specified position or function

   he was employed in the capacity of manager

7. a measure of the electrical output of a piece of apparatus such as a motor, generator, or accumulator
8. electronics a former name for capacitance
9. computing
   1. the number of words or characters that can be stored in a particular storage device
   2. the range of numbers that can be processed in a register
10. the bit rate that a communication channel or other system can carry
11. legal competence

    the capacity to make a will

Word History and Origins

Origin of capacity¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English capacite, capasite, from Middle French, from Latin capācitāt-, stem of capācitās “ability, understanding,” equivalent to capāci- (stem of capāx “confident, fit, roomy,” equivalent to cap(ere) “to take, seize” + -āx, adjective suffix) + -tās -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of capacity¹

C15: from Old French capacite, from Latin capācitās, from capāx spacious, from capere to take

Example Sentences

Taking into account costs of development and other factors, the rezoning only increases the realistic capacity for new construction by about 30%, the study determined.

From Los Angeles Times

In the post-war years, the country proved it had the capacity to produce an “economic miracle” against the odds.

From BBC

"Warming temperatures increase both the evaporation of water from the surface to the atmosphere, and the water-holding capacity of the atmosphere, increasing the frequency and intensity of drought conditions," he noted.

From Science Daily

Criteria vary from danger to a lack of capacity for consent and the need for treatment.

From Salon

"We have amazing heart failure nurses in Northern Ireland who are recognised internationally for the work they do, but lots of the services are at capacity."

From BBC

Related Words

• capability
• competence
• efficiency
• facility
• power
• readiness
• skill
• strength
• talent