the maximum number of individuals that an area of land can support, usually determined by their food requirements
carrying capacity in American English
noun
Ecology
the maximum, equilibrium number of organisms of a particular species that can be supported indefinitely in a given environment
Abbreviation: K
Word origin
[1880–85]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: automatism, impressionism, interface, jackpot, rain check