The maximum amount that something can hold, or the power or ability to do, experience, or understand something.
Like 'capable', it comes from Latin 'capacitas', from 'capax', meaning 'able to hold much'. It moved from physical space (how much fits in a container) to mental or social space (how much a person or system can handle).
We talk about 'emotional capacity' and 'memory capacity' using a word that started as a measurement of bucket size. Your brain and heart are being compared to containers—but ones that can actually expand with practice.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.