capacitance Electr.
(kəˈpæsɪtəns)
[f. capacity + -ance.]
The ratio of the change in an electric charge to the corresponding change in potential; also, the ability to store a charge of electricity, capacity.
| 1893 Trans. Amer. Inst. Electr. Engineers X. 412 The term ‘capacitance’ is suggested as preferable to the already existing ‘capacity’. 1916 Standardiz. Rules Amer. Inst. Electr. Engineers 18 It is..recommended that..the term ‘Capacitance’ be used when referring to the electro⁓static capacity of a device. Ibid. 53 Machinery of Low Capacitance. 1939 Nature 9 Sept. 458/2 The mica capacitor was compared by alternating current with an air capacitor, the capacitance of which can be evaluated in terms of resistance and time. 1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 132/1 Capacitance grading, grading of the properties of a dielectric so that the variation of stress from conductor to sheath is reduced. 1956 Amos & Birkinshaw Telev. Engin. ii. vii. 120 The input capacitance of a cathode follower is small only if the output load is high. 1962 A. Nisbett Technique Sound Studio iv. 79 In a building the size of a broadcasting studio centre there is a danger..of high frequency losses due to capacitance. |