volume
Pluralvolumes (some meanings)
Pluralvolumes (some meanings)
- 1How loud or quiet a sound is.
Like a control that makes a sound go from a soft whisper to a loud shout.
Please turn down the volume on the TV.
The volume was so high it hurt my ears.
UsageSay turn the volume up or turn the volume down.
Similarloudness
- 2An amount of something, often a large amount, such as how much is sold, done, or used.
The factory increased the volume of toys it makes.
A large volume of mail arrives every December.
UsageOften a large volume of something, like mail or orders.
- 3The amount of space that something takes up.
Like how much water you would need to fill a container right to the top.
A big box has more volume than a small one.
We measured the volume of water in the tank.
Similarcapacity
- 4A book, often one book in a set of books that belong together.
She pulled a heavy volume from the top shelf.
He gave me a beautiful old volume of poems.
Note
- 5A numbered group of issues of a magazine or journal, usually all those published in one year.
The story appeared in volume 12, issue 3, of the science magazine.
This volume includes all the issues from 1998.
UsageWritten before the issue number: volume 12, issue 3, or vol. 12.
Note
- 6
- 7A large amount of meaning about something, often shown without words.
Like how a single look from a parent can tell you everything.
Her smile spoke volumes about how happy she was.
The empty seats spoke volumes about the show's failure.
UsageUsually speak volumes: his face spoke volumes.
Note
- 8A part of a computer's storage that holds files together as one unit.
Like a labeled drawer where a computer keeps one set of files together.
She saved all her photos to a new volume on the drive.
The computer could not read the damaged volume.
Note
Less common meanings
- 9The total amount of lifting you do for a muscle in a workout or a week, counting sets, reps and weight.
Like adding up the weight of every box you carry over a whole day.
She increased her training volume by adding two more sets.
Too much volume in one session left his legs sore for days.
Note
- 10A rolled-up sheet or scroll, the shape that books had long ago.
Note
- 11A rounded lump or curling mass of something.
- 12A large shaped block fixed to a climbing wall that climbers grip or stand on.
- 13A number you get by adding up the connections at a group of points.
- 14To get bigger as it swells up.
- 15To send something drifting through the air.
The record player on the first floor volumed up Lonnie Johnson singing, “Tomorrow night, will you remember what you said tonight?”
1969, Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - 16To drift and be carried along through the air.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
It came from Latin "volumen," meaning a book or roll, which came from "volvo," meaning to roll or turn about. It reached English through Old French.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- English volume ultimately comes from Latin volumen, meaning book or roll. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin volumen derives from volvo, meaning to roll or turn about. en.wiktionary.org
- The word reached English through Old French. en.wiktionary.org