heat capacity

American  

noun

Thermodynamics.

1. the heat required to raise the temperature of a substance one degree.

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heat capacity British  

noun

1. the heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by unit temperature interval under specified conditions, usually measured in joules per kelvin. Symbol: C p (for constant pressure) or C v (for constant volume)

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heat capacity Scientific  

1. The ratio of the heat energy absorbed by a substance to its increase in temperature. Heat capacity is also called thermal capacity.

2. ◆ The specific heat or specific heat capacity of a substance is the heat capacity per unit mass, usually measured in joules per kilogram per degree Kelvin.

3. See also latent heat thermodynamics

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heat capacity Cultural  

1. In physics, the capability of a substance to absorb energy in the form of heat for a given increase in temperature. Materials with high heat capacities, such as water, require greater amounts of heat to increase their temperatures than do substances with low heat capacities, such as metals. (See entropy.)

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Etymology

Origin of heat capacity

First recorded in 1900–05

Compare meaning

How does heat-capacity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• heat capacity vs. specific heat

Example Sentences

And though the theater’s seating capacity for screenings has decreased to 1,104 from 1,450, that loss just means eager film fans must arrive earlier to secure good seats.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

More than 300 people showed up to proceedings held in a room with a seating capacity of barely 80.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Set to break ground this summer, the stadium will have more seating capacity than the United Center, home of the N.B.A.’s Chicago Bulls and the N.H.L.’s Chicago Blackhawks.

From New York Times • Jun. 16, 2024

With a seating capacity of 3,100 for each of six performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, he added, “it won’t even be break-even.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2024

The football stadium has just lost half of its seating capacity.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor