[ca.pac.i.tance] n [capacity] (1893) 1 a: the property of an electric nonconductor that permits the storage of energy as a result of the separation of charge that occurs when opposite surfaces of the nonconductor are maintained at a difference of potential b: the measure of this property that is equal to the ratio of the charge on either surface to the potential difference between the surfaces
2: a part of a circuit or network that possesses capacitance -- ca.pac.i.tive adj -- ca.pac.i.tive.ly adv