capacity Hear it!

capacity Definition

ca·pac·ity (kə pas′i tē)

noun pl. -·ties

  1. the ability to contain, absorb, or receive and hold
    1. the amount of space that can be filled; room for holding; content or volume a tank with a capacity of 21 gallons
    2. the point at which no more can be contained filled to capacity
  3. the power of receiving and holding knowledge, impressions, etc.; mental ability
  4. the ability or qualifications (for, or to do, something); aptitude
  5. maximum output or producing ability operating at capacity
  6. the quality of being adapted (for something) or susceptible (of something); capability; potentiality
  7. a condition of being qualified or authorized; position, function, status, etc. acting in the capacity of an advisor
  8. Elec. capacitance
  9. Law legal authority or competence

Etymology: ME & OFr capacite < L capacitas < capax: see capacious

capacity Synonyms

capacity

n.

  1. The limit of contents

    contents, limit, retention, space, room, size, volume, holding power, cubic contents, burden, amplitude, extent, compass, magnitude, spread, expanse, scope, latitude, bulk, dimensions, measure, range, quantity, reach, containing power, holding ability, sweep, proportions, mass, sufficiency, maximum amount, maximum number.

  2. Ability

    aptitude, capability, faculty, potential; see ability 1, 2, inclination 1.

  3. Function

    position, place, role, see function 1, job 1. See syn. study at function.

capacity Law Definition

n

  1. The function, office, position, or role in which one acts.
  2. A legal qualification, such as age, that determines one’s ability to do something that has legal consequences (such as making a contract or getting married). Also called legal capacity.
  3. The mental ability to perceive, understand, and appreciate all relevant facts, to make a rational decision based thereon, and to understand the nature and effect of one’s actions. See also sane.
criminal capacity
The mental ability required to sufficiently distinguish right from wrong to hold a person liable for his criminal acts. See also insanity and infancy.
diminished capacity
Reduced mental ability caused by such factors as alcohol or drug use, disease, mental retardation, or injury, that prevents a person from sufficiently distinguishing right from wrong to hold them liable for his criminal acts. See also insanity.
testamentary capacity
. The mental ability a person must have at the time he signs a testamentary document, such as a will, for the instrument to be valid. Although it varies from state to state, it usually requires the person to understand who are the natural objects of his bounty, the nature and extent of his property, and the consequences of executing the document. See also mind.
capacity Telecom Definition
See capacitance.
capacity Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • ton: The mill's three machine lines have a combined annual capacity of 950,000 tons.
  • liter: Fuel The fuel tank has a capacity of 14 liters which allows pumping at full rating for I hour.

Converse of object

  • build: We have to say ' we will help you build the capacity you need to trade ' .
  • carry: What are the weights and carrying capacity of copper tubes?
  • increase: Choice has not increased overall capacity; no more social housing is available to tenants.
  • lack: In cases of doubt, healthcare professionals should make every effort to decide whether the patient lacks capacity.

Adjective modifier

  • spare: The accounting records showed that the claimant had 13 vehicles and spare capacity so that there was no loss of takings.
  • advisory: The OU Rights Department will be involved in an advisory capacity.
  • aerobic: This would be great for the 400m runner, who has few concerns about aerobic capacity and lactate threshold.
  • maximum: The maximum passenger seating capacity for any vehicle is eight.
  • productive: Dana's current productive capacity from the GKA is therefore now approximately 14,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
  • increased: The growing demand for increased channel capacity has resulted in a lot of research into MIMO systems.

Modifies a noun

  • utilization: Scotland now has the highest level of capacity utilization with one in three firms working below capacity.
  • building: Capacity building There has been progress with the joint planning partners in the 4 local authority areas.
  • utilization: UPM expects that closing uncompetitive capacity will not affect its deliveries but will improve capacity utilization on remaining production lines and other UPM mills.
  • crowd: There will be around 1000 tickets available on the day and a capacity crowd is expected.

Noun used with modifier

  • storage: Is there enough storage capacity for the growing amount of data?
  • seating: The model 47 of 1959 with forward control enabled an uplift to a seating capacity of 36.
  • liter: However my 45 liter fuel tank capacity will easily take me to the capitol from the border at Kariba.
  • heat: The enthalpy values were obtained by integrating the specific heat capacity polynomial for each compound.
capacity Quotes

   When a felon's not engaged in his employment Or maturing his felonious little plans His capacity for innocent enjoyment Is just as great as any honest man'sö Ah! When constabulary duty's to be done A policeman's lot is not a happy one.

—Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

The twentieth century had a wonderful capacity for seeing nothing as the sum of everything.

—Dudek, Louis

Since his capacity to do is forced into channels of evil through environment and pressures, man is strong before he is moral. The world's anguish is caused by people between twentyand forty.

—Faulkner,William Harrison

What varieties man has found out in buildings, attires, husbandry, navigation, sculpture and imagery! What perfection has he shown, in the shows of theatres, in taming, killing, and catching wild beasts! What millions of inventions has he against others, and for himself in poisons, arms, engines, stratagems, and the like! What thousands of medicines for the health, of meats for the throat, of means and figures to persuade, of elegant phrases to delight, of verses for pleasure, of musical inventions and instruments! What excellent inventions are geography, arithmetic, astrology, and therest! How largeis the capacity of man, if we should stand upon particulars!

—St Augustine originally Aurelius Augustinus

His speeches were prepared with that infinite capacity for taking pains, which is said to be genius.

—Acheson, Dean Gooderham

Most human beings have an infinite capacity for taking things for granted.

—Huxley, Aldous Leonard