/ kəˈpæsəti; NAmE / noun
( pl. -ies )
OF CONTAINER
1.
[ U , C , usually sing. ] the number of things or people that a container or space can hold :
The theatre has a seating capacity of 2 000.
a fuel tank with a capacity of 50 litres
The hall was filled to capacity (= was completely full) .
They played to a capacity crowd (= one that filled all the space or seats) .
ABILITY
2.
[ C , usually sing. , U ] capacity (for sth / for doing sth) | capacity (to do sth) the ability to understand or to do sth :
She has an enormous capacity for hard work.
Limited resources are restricting our capacity for developing new products.
your capacity to enjoy life
intellectual capacity
ROLE
3.
[ C , usually sing. ] the official position or function that sb has
SYN role :
acting in her capacity as manager
We are simply involved in an advisory capacity on the project.
OF FACTORY / MACHINE
4.
[ sing. , U ] the quantity that a factory, machine, etc. can produce :
The factory is working at full capacity.
OF ENGINE
5.
[ C , U ] the size or power of a piece of equipment, especially the engine of a vehicle :
an engine with a capacity of 1 600 ccs
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French capacité , from Latin capacitas , from capax , capac- that can contain, from capere take or hold.