capacitance
Americannoun
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the ratio of an impressed charge on a conductor to the corresponding change in potential.
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the ratio of the charge on either conductor of a capacitor to the potential difference between the conductors.
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the property of being able to collect a charge of electricity. C
noun
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the property of a system that enables it to store electric charge
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a measure of this, equal to the charge that must be added to such a system to raise its electrical potential by one unit
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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.
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Compare inductance
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of capacitance
First recorded in 1905–10; capacit(y) + -ance
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This not only creates more room for components but also shortens wiring distances, reducing parasitic capacitance and significantly increasing communication bandwidth between different parts of a chip.
From Science Daily ● May 30, 2026
This creates a small change in capacitance, just enough for the device to detect a touch.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 26, 2026
This takes advantage of the temperature dependence of the capacitance of specially manufactured miniature capacitors.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 17, 2024
A parallel plate capacitor must have a large area to have a capacitance approaching a farad.
From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015
The Protective Condenser.—This condenser has a capacitance of 1 mfd. and costs $2.00.
From The Radio Amateur's Hand Book by A. Frederick (Archie Frederick) Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
