Princeton's WordNet(3.44 / 9 votes)Rate this definition:

1. capacity(noun)

   capability to perform or produce

   "among his gifts is his capacity for true altruism"; "limited runway capacity"; "a great capacity for growth"

2. capability, capacity(noun)

   the susceptibility of something to a particular treatment

   "the capability of a metal to be fused"

3. capacity, content(noun)

   the amount that can be contained

   "the gas tank has a capacity of 12 gallons"

4. capacity(noun)

   the maximum production possible

   "the plant is working at 80 per cent capacity"

5. capacity(noun)

   a specified function

   "he was employed in the capacity of director"; "he should be retained in his present capacity at a higher salary"

6. capacity(noun)

   (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. capacitance, electrical capacity, capacity(noun)

   an electrical phenomenon whereby an electric charge is stored

8. capacity, mental ability(noun)

   the power to learn or retain knowledge; in law, the ability to understand the facts and significance of your behavior

9. capacity(noun)

   tolerance for alcohol

   "he had drunk beyond his capacity"

Wiktionary(2.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. capacity(Noun)

   The ability to hold, receive or absorb

2. capacity(Noun)

   A measure of such ability; volume

3. capacity(Noun)

   The maximum amount that can be held

4. capacity(Noun)

   Capability; the ability to perform some task

5. capacity(Noun)

   The maximum that can be produced.

6. capacity(Noun)

   Mental ability; the power to learn

7. capacity(Noun)

   A faculty; the potential for growth and development

8. capacity(Noun)

   A role; the position in which one functions

9. capacity(Noun)

   Legal authority (to make an arrest for example)

10. capacity(Noun)

    Electrical capacitance.

11. capacity(Noun)

    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.

12. capacity(Adjective)

    Filling the allotted space.

    There will be a capacity crowd at Busch stadium for the sixth game.

Webster Dictionary(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Capacity(noun)

   the power of receiving or containing; extent of room or space; passive power; -- used in reference to physical things

2. Capacity(noun)

   the power of receiving and holding ideas, knowledge, etc.; the comprehensiveness of the mind; the receptive faculty; capability of undestanding or feeling

3. Capacity(noun)

   ability; power pertaining to, or resulting from, the possession of strength, wealth, or talent; possibility of being or of doing

4. Capacity(noun)

   outward condition or circumstances; occupation; profession; character; position; as, to work in the capacity of a mason or a carpenter

5. Capacity(noun)

   legal or noral qualification, as of age, residence, character, etc., necessary for certain purposes, as for holding office, for marrying, for making contracts, will, etc.; legal power or right; competency

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Capacity

   The capacity of both natural and legal persons determines whether they may make binding amendments to their rights, duties and obligations, such as getting married or merging, entering into contracts, making gifts, or writing a valid will. Capacity is an aspect of status and both are defined by a person's personal law: ⁕for natural persons, the law of domicile or lex domicilii in common law jurisdictions, and either the law of nationality or lex patriae, or of habitual residence in civil law states; ⁕for legal persons, the law of the place of incorporation, the lex incorporationis for companies while other forms of business entity derive their capacity either from the law of the place in which they were formed or the laws of the states in which they establish a presence for trading purposes depending on the nature of the entity and the transactions entered into. When the law limits or bars a person from engaging in specified activities, any agreements or contracts to do so are either voidable or void for incapacity. Sometimes such legal incapacity is referred to as incompetence. For comparison, see Competence (law).

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Capacity

   kap-as′i-ti, n. power of holding or grasping a thing: room: volume: power of mind: character: position enabling one to do something.—adj. Capā′cious, including much: roomy: wide: extensive.—adv. Capā′ciously.—n. Capā′ciousness.—v.t. Capac′itate, to make capable: to qualify; Capacity for heat, power of absorbing heat.—Legal capacity, the power to alter one's rights or duties by the exercise of free-will, or responsibility to punishment for one's acts. [Fr.,—L. capacitas,—capĕre, to take, hold.]

Editors Contribution(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. capacity

   Capacity (noun) the weight, volume or speed that produce to the maximum level.

   Capacity is the ability or aptitude shows in a job.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'capacity' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1768

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'capacity' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2486

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'capacity' in Nouns Frequency: #746

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of capacity in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of capacity in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Sample Sentences & Example Usage

1. Zoran Zaev:

   Macedonia has a democratic capacity.

2. Federal Prosecutor General Harald Range:

   We are at the limits of our capacity.

3. Erwin Mayr:

   We will work at full capacity this year.

4. Thomas Dobbs:

   You have these gaping holes in capacity.

5. William Hazlitt:

   As is our confidence, so is our capacity.

Images & Illustrations of capacity