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.
3.
power of receiving impressions, knowledge, etc.; mental ability: the capacity to learn calculus.
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.
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.
reaching maximum capacity: a capacity audience; a capacity crowd.
[Origin: 1375–1425; late ME capacite < MF < L capācitāt- (s. of capācitās), equiv. to capāci-, s. of capāx roomy (cap(ere) to hold + -āci- adj. suffix) + -tāt--ty2]
1480, from M.Fr. capacité, from L. capacitatem, from capax "able to hold much," from capere "to take" (see capable). Meaning "largest audience a place can hold" is 1908.
capability to perform or produce; "among his gifts is his capacity for true altruism"; "limited runway capacity"; "a great capacity for growth" [ant: incapacity]
2.
the susceptibility of something to a particular treatment; "the capability of a metal to be fused" [syn: capability]
3.
the amount that can be contained; "the gas tank has a capacity of 12 gallons"
4.
the maximum production possible; "the plant is working at 80 per cent capacity"
5.
a specified function; "he was employed in the capacity of director"; "he should be retained in his present capacity at a higher salary"
6.
(computer science) the amount of information (in bytes) that can be stored on a disk drive; "the capacity of a hard disk drive is usually expressed in megabytes"
7.
an electrical phenomenon whereby an electric charge is stored [syn: capacitance]
8.
the power to learn or retain knowledge; in law, the ability to understand the facts and significance of your behavior [ant: incapacity]
9.
tolerance for alcohol; "he had drunk beyond his capacity"
capacitycommunications The maximum possible data transfer rate of a communications channel under ideal conditions. The total capacity of a channel may be shared between several independent data streams using some kind of multiplexing, in which case, each stream's data rate may be limited to a fixed fraction of the total capacity. (2001-05-22)
A*bil"i*ty\, n.; pl. Abilities. [F. habilet['e], earlier spelling habilit['e] (with silent h), L. habilitas aptitude, ability, fr. habilis apt. See Able.] The quality or state of being able; power to perform, whether physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity; skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill, resources, etc.; -- in the plural, faculty, talent. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren. --Acts xi. 29. Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study. --Bacon. The public men of England, with much of a peculiar kind of ability. --Macaulay. Syn: Capacity; talent; cleverness; faculty; capability; efficiency; aptitude; aptness; address; dexterity; skill. Usage: Ability, Capacity. These words come into comparison when applied to the higher intellectual powers. Ability has reference to the active exercise of our faculties. It implies not only native vigor of mind, but that ease and promptitude of execution which arise from mental training. Thus, we speak of the ability with which a book is written, an argument maintained, a negotiation carried on, etc. It always something to be done, and the power of doing it. Capacity has reference to the receptive powers. In its higher exercises it supposes great quickness of apprehension and breadth of intellect, with an uncommon aptitude for acquiring and retaining knowledge. Hence it carries with it the idea of resources and undeveloped power. Thus we speak of the extraordinary capacity of such men as Lord Bacon, Blaise Pascal, and Edmund Burke. "Capacity," says H. Taylor, "is requisite to devise, and ability to execute, a great enterprise." The word abilities, in the plural, embraces both these qualities, and denotes high mental endowments.
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Audio Help [kuh-pas-i-tee] Pronunciation Key noun, plural -ties, adjective 
