I. kə-ˈpa-sə-tē, -ˈpas-tē noun
( plural -ties )
Etymology: Middle English capacite, from Middle French capacité, from Latin capacitat-, capacitas, from capac-, capax
Date: 15th century
1. : legal competency or fitness
capacity to stand trial
2.
a. : the potential or suitability for holding, storing, or accommodating
a large seating capacity
b. : the maximum amount or number that can be contained or accommodated
a jug with a one-gallon capacity
the auditorium was filled to capacity
— see metric system table, weight table
3.
a. : an individual's mental or physical ability : aptitude , skill
b. : the faculty or potential for treating, experiencing, or appreciating
capacity for love
4. : duty , position , role
will be happy to serve in any capacity
5. : the facility or power to produce, perform, or deploy : capability
a plan to double the factory's capacity
also : maximum output
industries running at three-quarter capacity
6.
a. : capacitance
b. : the quantity of electricity that a battery can deliver under specified conditions
II. adjective
Date: 1897
: equaling maximum capacity
a capacity crowd