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
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Hyundai's Tucson, Santa Cruz and Santa Fe models have capacitance recognition, which detects differentials in the electricity level in various parts of the fingertip. Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025 The team described their sensor, which relies on capacitance to detect an object regardless of its conductivity, in a paper published on 14 November in Nature. IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2024 The capacitance varies with the change in the facing area, which changes substantially in proportion to the depth of depression of the button. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 27 Mar. 2024 Back side power delivery with 200-nm bond pads would cut down the capacitance of 3D connections so much that the product of energy efficiency and signal delay would be as much as nine times as high as what can be achieved with 400-nm bond pads. IEEE Spectrum, 4 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for capacitance 

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 18 Jan. 2025.

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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