capacity

ca|pac|i|ty

W2S3 [kəˈpæsıti] n plural capacities

[Date: 1400-1500; : French; Origin: capacité, from Latin capacitas, from capax; CAPACIOUS]

1.) [singular]

the amount of space a container, room etc has to hold things or people

capacity of

▪ The fuel tank has a capacity of 40 litres.

▪ The room had seating capacity for about 80.

▪ The orchestra played to a capacity crowd (=the largest number of people who can fit into a hall, theatre etc) .

▪ All the hotels were filled to capacity (=completely full) .

2.) [U and C]

someone's ability to do something

capacity for

▪ a child's capacity for learning

▪ an infinite capacity for love

capacity to do sth

▪ a capacity to think in an original way

3.) [singular] formal

someone's job, position, or duty

= ↑role

in a professional/official etc capacity

▪ Rollins will be working in an advisory capacity on this project.

(do sth) in your capacity as sth

▪ I attended the meeting in my capacity as chairman of the safety committee.

4.) [singular, U]

the amount of something that a factory, company, machine etc can produce or deal with

▪ The company has the capacity to build 1500 trucks a year.

▪ The factory has been working at full capacity . (=making the most amount of things that it can)

5.) [singular, U]

the size or power of something such as an engine

▪ The tax on cars is still based on engine capacity.