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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Capacity vs capability
In an article in Discover about whale hearing; "Over the years Ketten has demonstrated that more than a dozen species that were not previously known to echolocate have the capacity
I think capability would have been the better choice. In my dictionary, "Capacity" does not fit until you get down to the definitions 4,5, and 6:
a[pac[i[ty 7k! pas4i tc8
n.,
pl. 3ties 5ME & OFr capacite < L capacitas < capax: see CAPACIOUS6
1 the ability to contain, absorb, or receive and hold
2 a) the amount of space that can be filled; room for holding; content or volume !a tank with a capacity of 21 gallons" b) the point at which no more can be contained !filled to capacity"
3 the power of receiving and holding knowledge, impressions, etc.; mental ability
4 the ability or qualifications (for, or to do, something); aptitude
5 maximum output or producing ability !operating at capacity"
6 the quality of being adapted (for something) or susceptible (of something); capability; potentiality
7 a condition of being qualified or authorized; position, function, status, etc. !acting in the capacity of an advisor"
8 Elec. CAPACITANCE
9 Law legal authority or competence
—SYN FUNCTION
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Joined: Jan 2001
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addict
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addict
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 428 |
I think you're right, Bill, but depending on what the rest of that sentence said, perhaps it was meant more literally. I know that in order to properly echolocate, animals need a certain about of empty space in their skull to receive and amplify the vibrations properly. Maybe the author was actually talking about the amount of space in these whales' skulls -- in which case capacity seems just right.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear Flatlander: That was the whole sentence. My point is that until you have a capability, there is nothing to measure. Capacity is the value obtained by a measurement.
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