capacitance
noun
ca·pac·i·tance kə-ˈpa-sə-tən(t)s 
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
kə-ˈpa-sə-tiv
adjective capacitively adverb
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web These exchanges alter the quantum dot's ability to store charge (its capacitance, in other words), a property that can be measured. 
John Timmer, Ars Technica, 15 Mar. 2022 The figure below shows Samsung’s projections for DRAM development including changes in the cell transistor structure, cell capacitance and eventually 3D DRAM stacking (from Samsung’s plenary talk at the 2021 IEEE IEDM). Tom Coughlin, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2021 In traditional floating gates, insulators separate individual cells, which results in undesired capacitance between cells. Jim Salter, Ars Technica, 11 Nov. 2020 Micron's replacement-gate architecture instead builds multiple cells into a single insulating structure, virtually eliminating cell-to-cell capacitance, and (according to Micron) increasing write endurance, power efficiency, and performance. Jim Salter, Ars Technica, 11 Nov. 2020 Neurons firing action potentials that affect the downstream cells they are wired to (via synapses) are one type of mechanism, as are electronic circuits, made of transistors, capacitances, resistances and wires. Christof Koch, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2019 Fingerprint scanners work on this same principle, just at a level small enough to measure the ridges and valleys of your fingerprint—a ridge will affect capacitance more than a valley, and thus an electrical fingerprint is measured. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 29 Oct. 2018 Meanwhile, a capacitance sensor measures the electrical charge in the leaf. Nathan Hurst, Smithsonian, 27 Sep. 2017 See More
John Timmer, Ars Technica, 15 Mar. 2022 The figure below shows Samsung’s projections for DRAM development including changes in the cell transistor structure, cell capacitance and eventually 3D DRAM stacking (from Samsung’s plenary talk at the 2021 IEEE IEDM). Tom Coughlin, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2021 In traditional floating gates, insulators separate individual cells, which results in undesired capacitance between cells. Jim Salter, Ars Technica, 11 Nov. 2020 Micron's replacement-gate architecture instead builds multiple cells into a single insulating structure, virtually eliminating cell-to-cell capacitance, and (according to Micron) increasing write endurance, power efficiency, and performance. Jim Salter, Ars Technica, 11 Nov. 2020 Neurons firing action potentials that affect the downstream cells they are wired to (via synapses) are one type of mechanism, as are electronic circuits, made of transistors, capacitances, resistances and wires. Christof Koch, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2019 Fingerprint scanners work on this same principle, just at a level small enough to measure the ridges and valleys of your fingerprint—a ridge will affect capacitance more than a valley, and thus an electrical fingerprint is measured. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 29 Oct. 2018 Meanwhile, a capacitance sensor measures the electrical charge in the leaf. Nathan Hurst, Smithsonian, 27 Sep. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
capacity
First Known Use
1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Medical Definition
capacitance
noun
ca·pac·i·tance kə-ˈpas-ət-ən(t)s
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