(1)容量(积)(ability to hold，receive or contain sth)[U，a～][N(of)]：the～of a bag/a box/a hotel/one's stomach包/盒子/旅店/某人胃的容量;The seating～of this theatre/this auditorium is 500. 这座剧院/礼堂可容纳500人。(theatre/auditorium/hall) have a seating～of 500 people/the～to hold 500 people(剧院/礼堂/大厅)坐得下500人;(storage vessel) have (with) a～of 100 litres/20 gallons/2 quarts(储藏器)可装下100升/20加仑/两夸脱;have (with) half the～of a bottle有一个瓶子的一半容量;have (with) a large/ten-gallon～有很大的/10加仑的容量;a building of very large～一栋容量极大的建筑物;be filled/full to～满员(容量);〖同〗volume;

(2)(生产)能力(maximum or most efficient level of production)[U，a～][N(of)]：(factory) have (with) a productive～of 200 cars/the～to produce 200 cars a week(工厂)有每周生产200辆车的能力;raise the generating/shipbuilding～提高发电/造船能力;operate a machine/work at full～最大限度地运转机器/工作;〖同〗ability，power;〖反〗inability，incapacity;

(3)能力(ability to produce，experience，understand or learn sth)[U，a～][N(for)]：have an enormous(infinite)～for hard work/patience有巨大(无限)的吃苦耐劳/忍耐能力;be a man with a great (big)～for enjoying himself/remembering /learning是一个有极大(很大)自娱/记忆/学习能力的人;have the～to be king/to outproduce other nations有当国王/生产超过其他国家的能力;show very little～to handle this kind of work几乎没有表现出驾驭这种工作的能力;improve one's organization/fighting～提高组织/战斗能力;The book is within/beyond his～.这本书他读得懂/读不懂。〖同〗ability，talent;〖反〗inability，incapacity;

in one's capacity as 以……地位(作用)：speak (act)in one's(the)～of a minister/a chairman/a commander-in-chief 以部长/主席/总司令的身份讲话(行动);speak/act in one's police～以警官的身份讲话/行动;

【辨异】capacity 与 ability、talent、faculty 和 genius的区别见 ABILITY。