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Webster 1913 Edition


Capacity

Ca-pac′i-ty

(kȧ-păs′ĭ-ty̆)
,
Noun.
;
pl.
Capacities
(-tĭz)
.
[L.
capacitus
, fr.
capax
,
capacis
; fr. F.
capacité
. See
Capacious
.]
1.
The power of receiving or containing; extent of room or space; passive power; – used in reference to physical things.
Had our great palace the
capacity

To camp this host, we all would sup together.
Shakespeare
The
capacity
of the exhausted cylinder.
Boyle.
2.
The power of receiving and holding ideas, knowledge, etc.; the comprehensiveness of the mind; the receptive faculty; capability of understanding or feeling.
Capacity
is now properly limited to these [the mere passive operations of the mind]; its primary signification, which is literally
room for
, as well as its employment, favors this; although it can not be denied that there are examples of its usage in an active sense.
Sir W. Hamilton.
3.
Ability; power pertaining to, or resulting from, the possession of strength, wealth, or talent; possibility of being or of doing.
The
capacity
of blessing the people.
Alex. Hamilton.
A cause with such
capacities
endued.
Blackmore.
4.
Outward condition or circumstances; occupation; profession; character; position;
as, to work in the
capacity
of a mason or a carpenter
.
5.
(Law)
Legal or moral qualification, as of age, residence, character, etc., necessary for certain purposes, as for holding office, for marrying, for making contracts, wills, etc.; legal power or right; competency.
Syn. – Ability; faculty; talent; capability; skill; efficiency; cleverness. See
Ability
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Capacity

CAPACITY

, n.
1.
Passive power; the power of containing, or holding; extent of room or space; as the capacity of a vessel, or a cask.
2.
The extent or comprehensiveness of the mind; the power of receiving ideas or knowledge.
Let instruction be adapted to the capacities of youth.
3.
Active power; ability; applied to men or things; but less common, and correct.
The world does not include a cause endued with such capacities.
4.
State; condition; character; profession; occupation. A man may act in the capacity of a mechanic, of a friend, of an attorney, or of a statesman. He may have a natural or a political capacity.
5.
Ability, in a moral or legal sense; qualification; legal power or right; as, a man or a corporation may have a capacity to give or receive and hold estate.
6.
In geometry, the solid contents of a body.
7.
In chimistry, that state, quality or constitution of bodies, by which they absorb and contain, or render latent, any fluid; as the capacity of water for caloric.

Definition 2024


capacity

capacity

English

Noun

capacity (countable and uncountable, plural capacities)

  1. The ability to hold, receive or absorb
  2. A measure of such ability; volume
  3. The maximum amount that can be held
    It was hauling a capacity load.
    The orchestra played to a capacity crowd.
  4. Capability; the ability to perform some task
  5. The maximum that can be produced.
  6. Mental ability; the power to learn
  7. A faculty; the potential for growth and development
  8. A role; the position in which one functions
  9. Legal authority (to make an arrest for example)
  10. Electrical capacitance.
  11. (operations) The maximum that can be produced on a machine or in a facility or group.
    Its capacity rating was 150 tons per hour, but its actual maximum capacity was 200 tons per hour.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

capacity

  1. Filling the allotted space.
    There will be a capacity crowd at Busch stadium for the sixth game.

Related terms