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 The rotational twist of the cable helps to optimize inductance and capacitance of the connection. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Officials are prioritizing projects that tap the relatively consistent and strong winds that blow farther offshore, more than 75 km, say—a distance for which the high capacitance of insulated power cables renders AC transmission impractical. IEEE Spectrum, 28 Dec. 2023 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 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 28 Mar. 2024.

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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