Dictionary.com

capacitance

[ kuh-pas-i-tuhns ]
/ kəˈpæs ɪ təns /

noun Electricity.

the ratio of an impressed charge on a conductor to the corresponding change in potential.
the ratio of the charge on either conductor of a capacitor to the potential difference between the conductors.
the property of being able to collect a charge of electricity. Symbol: C

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ IF A DAZZLING VOCABULARY IS YOUR DESIDERATUM!

Have the Words of the Day from October 19–25, 2020, made an indelible mark on your memory? Take the quiz to find out!
Question 1 of 7
What does “clement” mean?
having or claiming to have the power of seeing objects or actions beyond the range of natural vision.
mild or merciful in disposition or character; lenient; compassionate.
favorite; cherished.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of capacitance

First recorded in 1905–10; capacit(y) + -ance

Words nearby capacitance

capa, capability, Capablanca, capable, capacious, capacitance, capacitate, capacitation, capacitive, capacitive coupling, capacitive reactance
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for capacitance

British Dictionary definitions for capacitance

capacitance
/ (kəˈpæsɪtəns) /

noun

the property of a system that enables it to store electric charge
a measure of this, equal to the charge that must be added to such a system to raise its electrical potential by one unit
Symbol: CFormer name: capacity

Derived forms of capacitance

capacitive, adjectivecapacitively, adverb

Word Origin for capacitance

C20: from capacit (y) + -ance
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for capacitance

capacitance
[ kə-păs′ĭ-təns ]

A measure of the ability of a configuration of materials to store electric charge. In a capacitor, capacitance depends on the size of the plates, the type of insulator, and the amount of space between the plates. Most electrical components display capacitance to some degree; even the spaces between components of a circuit have a natural capacitance. Capacitance is measured in farads. Compare inductance.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.