capacitance

noun

ca·​pac·​i·​tance kə-ˈpa-sə-tən(t)s How to pronounce capacitance (audio)
1
a
: the property of an electric nonconductor that permits the storage of energy as a result of the separation of charge that occurs when opposite surfaces of the nonconductor are maintained at a difference of potential
b
: the measure of this property that is equal to the ratio of the charge on either surface to the potential difference between the surfaces
2
: a part of a circuit or network that possesses capacitance
capacitive adjective
capacitively adverb

Examples of capacitance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Today’s standard cells can have no more than four inputs, because a greater number would add too much capacitance, which saps speed. IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2023 The buffers meant delays in the computers’ operations, since several boards shared a backplane, and the huge capacitance required for multiple PC boards slowed the backplane. IEEE Spectrum, 2 July 2023 But for its true micron size, the new device shows an exceptionally high capacitance, says Misra. IEEE Spectrum, 14 Apr. 2023 The figure below shows his projections for DRAM development including changes in the cell transistor structure, cell capacitance and eventually 3D DRAM stacking. Tom Coughlin, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2021 But at high frequencies, the capacitance between the coil and washer saps a signal’s power instead of amplifying it. Rachel Courtland, IEEE Spectrum, 1 May 2014 And this is particularly a problem at high frequencies, which are more susceptible, particularly to the capacitance side of things. Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Apr. 2023 These new interconnects will also need better insulation, lest signal-sapping capacitance take away all their advantage. IEEE Spectrum, 22 Mar. 2023 The team sandwiched a layer of perovskite—a material prized for its electrical and optical properties—between two electrodes to create a capacitor whose ability to store energy, or capacitance, changed in proportion to the intensity of the light to which it is exposed. IEEE Spectrum, 8 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'capacitance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

capacity

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of capacitance was in 1893

Dictionary Entries Near capacitance

Cite this Entry

“Capacitance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capacitance. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

Medical Definition

capacitance

noun
ca·​pac·​i·​tance kə-ˈpas-ət-ən(t)s How to pronounce capacitance (audio)
1
a
: the property of an electric nonconductor that permits the storage of energy as a result of the separation of charge occurring when opposite surfaces of the nonconductor are maintained at a difference of potential
b
: the measure of this property equal to the ratio of the charge on either surface to the potential difference between the surfaces
2
: a part of a circuit or network that possesses capacitance

More from Merriam-Webster on capacitance

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