capacity
- capacity
-
I. noun
(plural -ties)
Etymology: Middle English capacite, from Middle French capacité, from Latin capacitat-, capacitas, from capac-, capax
Date: 15th century
1. legal competency or fitness <
capacity to stand trial
>
2.
a. the potential or suitability for holding, storing, or accommodating <a large seating capacity
>
b. the maximum amount or number that can be contained or accommodated <a jug with a one-gallon capacity
> <the auditorium was filled to capacity
> — see metric system table, weight table
3.
a. an individual's mental or physical ability ; aptitude, skill
b. the faculty or potential for treating, experiencing, or appreciating <capacity for love
>
4. duty, position, role <will be happy to serve in any capacity
>
5. the facility or power to produce, perform, or deploy ; capability <a plan to double the factory's capacity
>; also maximum output <industries running at three-quarter capacity
>
6.
a. capacitance
b. the quantity of electricity that a battery can deliver under specified conditions
II. adjective
Date: 1897
equaling maximum capacity <a capacity crowd
>
New Collegiate Dictionary.
2001.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
capacity — ca·pac·i·ty n pl ties 1: a qualification, power, or ability (as to give consent or make a testament) created by operation of law 2: an individual s ability or aptitude; esp: mental ability as it relates to responsibility for the commission of a… … Law dictionary
Capacity — is the ability to hold, receive or absorb, or a measure thereof, similar to the concept of volume.Capacity may also refer to: *Capacity (economics), the point of production at which a firm or industry s average (or per unit ) costs begin to rise … Wikipedia
Capacity — Ca*pac i*ty (k[.a]*p[a^]s [i^]*t[y^]), n.; pl. {Capacities} ( t[i^]z). [L. capacitus, fr. capax, capacis; fr. F. capacit[ e]. See {Capacious}.] 1. The power of receiving or containing; extent of room or space; passive power; used in reference to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
capacity — [kə pas′i tē] n. pl. capacities [ME & OFr capacite < L capacitas < capax: see CAPACIOUS] 1. the ability to contain, absorb, or receive and hold 2. a) the amount of space that can be filled; room for holding; content or volume [a tank with a … English World dictionary
capacity — ► NOUN (pl. capacities) 1) the maximum amount that something can contain or produce. 2) (before another noun ) fully occupying the available space: a capacity crowd. 3) the total cylinder volume that is swept by the pistons in an internal… … English terms dictionary
capacity — early 15c., from M.Fr. capacité (15c.), from L. capacitatem (nom. capacitas) breadth, capacity, from capax (gen. capacis) able to hold much, from capere to take (see CAPABLE (Cf. capable)). Meaning largest audience a place can hold is 1908. Verb… … Etymology dictionary
capacity — [n1] volume; limit of volume held accommodation, amplitude, bulk, burden, compass, contents, dimensions, expanse, extent, full, holding ability, holding power, latitude, magnitude, mass, measure, proportions, quantity, range, reach, retention,… … New thesaurus
Capacity — [engl.], Kapazität … Universal-Lexikon
capacity — *ability, capability Analogous words: amplitude, *expanse, spread: extent, magnitude, *size, volume: aptitude, *gift, faculty, talent, bent, turn, knack Antonyms: incapacity Contrasted words: powerlessness, impotence (see corresponding adjectives … New Dictionary of Synonyms
capacity — n. ability to hold 1) to capacity (filled to capacity) 2) lung; seating; storage capacity 3) a capacity of (a capacity of twenty gallons) ability 4) intellectual, mental capacity 5) one s earning capacity 6) a capacity for (a capacity for making… … Combinatory dictionary
capacity — A lending and credit analysis term that describes a borrower s or applicant s ability to meet debt service obligations. See debt service coverage. American Banker Glossary credit grantor s measurement of a person s ability to repay loans.… … Financial and business terms
