capacity

Pluralcapacities

1. 1
   how much fitsnouncountable or uncountable

   The amount that something can hold or contain, often given as a volume.

   The warehouse is already at capacity, so the new stock will have to wait.

   The reservoir is at less than half its capacity after the dry winter.

   UsageOften at capacity, at full capacity or filled to capacity. Give the number with of: a capacity of fifty.

2. 2
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The ability or power to carry out a task.

   Few people lack the capacity to succeed; more often they lack the will to work at it.

   The hospital's capacity to treat burns was tested by the fire.

   UsageUsually capacity to + verb: the capacity to succeed, lack the capacity to cope.

   Similarcapability, ability, power

   Oppositeinability, incapacity

3. 3
   noununcountable

   The greatest amount that something, such as a factory or machine, can produce.

   The new plant will double the company's capacity to build electric cars.

   Spare capacity in the power grid vanished during the heat wave.

   UsagePlants run at full capacity or below capacity; room to produce more is spare capacity.

   Similarmaximum

4. 4
   rolenouncountable

   A role; the position or function in which one acts.

   In his capacity as trustee he could not vote on the sale.

   The ambassador was there in a private capacity, not representing her government.

   UsageUsually after in: in an official capacity, in a private capacity, in her capacity as chair.

   Similarrole, position, function

   Note

   A word for which hat a person is wearing at a given moment. The phrase earns its keep when one person holds several roles and must say which of them is acting.

5. 5
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A natural ability or power of the mind, especially to learn or to develop a skill.

   Her capacity for languages astonished her tutors.

   The test claims to measure capacity rather than knowledge.

   UsageCapacity for + noun or -ing (a capacity for languages), but capacity to + verb.

   Note

   Here the holding is done by the mind. Capiō, the verb behind the "ability to hold" sense, also meant "to understand," so a mind's capacity is how much it can take in.

6. 6
   absorbnouncountable or uncountable

   The ability to hold, take in, or soak up something.

   Dry soil has little capacity to absorb a sudden downpour.

   The heat capacity of water is what keeps coastal towns mild.

   UsageEither capacity to + verb (a capacity to absorb) or capacity for + noun or -ing (a capacity for soaking up water).

   Note

   The holding sense the rest of the word unfolds from. It travels easily from jugs and tanks to soils, materials and whole systems, as in heat capacity.

7. 7
   legally ablenoununcountable

   Legal authority or competence, as to make an arrest or enter a contract.

   The court found that she lacked capacity to make the will.

   The court had to decide whether the elderly man still had the capacity to make a valid will when he signed it.

   UsageOften lack capacity or have (the) capacity to + verb: she lacked capacity to make a will.

   Similarcompetence, authority

   Oppositeincapacity

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