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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Capacity: Definition, Usage & Key Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：maximum containable amount (capacity)

capacity 🔊

/kəˈpæsəti/

The most that a container or space can hold.

Capacity illustration: a glass filled to the brim with water, showing maximum volume.

maximum containable amount 🔊

➕

/ˈmæksɪməm kənˈteɪnəbəl əˈmaʊnt/

The greatest quantity that a container or physical space can hold.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'capacitas', meaning 'roominess', derived from 'capax' (able to hold).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a 'cap' that can expand to hold more – capacity measures how much it can contain.

📖 Example

The new sports stadium has a capacity of 50,000 people. 🔊 The new sports stadium can accommodate up to 50,000 people at its fullest.

🔗 Collocations

full capacity – completely filled or utilized to the maximum limit

seating capacity – the number of people that can be seated in a venue

storage capacity – the amount of data or items that can be stored

🔄 Synonyms

volume (n.) – the amount of space occupied by an object or substance

size (n.) – the dimensions or magnitude of something

limit (n.) – the greatest amount possible or allowed

🚫 Antonyms

emptiness (n.) – the state of containing nothing or being vacant

void (n.) – an empty space or absence of matter

🌱 Derivatives

capacious (adj.) – having a lot of space inside; roomy

incapacity (n.) – lack of ability or power to contain or perform

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'capax' via Old French. It is commonly used in engineering (e.g., battery capacity) and business (production capacity) to denote maximum limits.

Meaning 2：maximum ability or output (capacity)

capacity 🔊

/kəˈpæsəti/

The greatest amount that someone can do or learn, or a machine can produce.

Capacity concept: a brain absorbing information, representing mental ability and potential.

maximum ability or output 🔊

➕

/ˈmæksɪməm əˈbɪləti ɔːr ˈaʊtpʊt/

The utmost extent of a person's capability to perform or learn, or a machine's production limit.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

She has an amazing capacity for learning new languages. 🔊 She possesses a remarkable ability to acquire new languages swiftly.

🔗 Collocations

mental capacity – the cognitive ability to think, understand, and reason

production capacity – the maximum output a factory or system can generate

learning capacity – the capability to absorb and retain new knowledge

🔄 Synonyms

ability (n.) – the power or skill to do something effectively

capability (n.) – the quality of being capable; having the potential to achieve

potential (n.) – latent qualities or abilities that can be developed

🚫 Antonyms

incapacity (n.) – lack of ability or power to perform a task

inability (n.) – the state of not being able to do something

🌱 Derivatives

capacious (adj.) – spacious or having ample room, metaphorically for ability

incapacity (n.) – inability to perform or contain, often legally or physically