n. 1. Symbol C a. The ratio of charge to potential on an electrically charged, isolated conductor. b. The ratio of the electric charge transferred from one to the other of a pair of conductors to the resulting potential difference between them. 2. a. The property of a circuit element that permits it to store charge. b. The part of the circuit exhibiting capacitance. [CAPACIT(Y) + -ANCE.] ca·paci·tive (-tĭv) adj. ca·paci·tive·ly adv. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.