volume

American  

[vol-yoom, -yuhm] / ˈvɒl jum, -jəm /

noun

• volumes
  plural

1. a collection of written or printed sheets bound together and constituting a book.

2. one book of a related set or series.

3. a set of issues of a periodical, often covering one year.

4. History/Historical. a roll of papyrus, parchment, or the like, or of manuscript.

5. the amount of space, measured in cubic units, that an object or substance occupies.

6. a mass or quantity, especially a large quantity, of something.

   a volume of mail.

7. amount; total.

   the volume of sales.

8. the degree of sound intensity or audibility; loudness.

   to turn up the volume on a radio.

9. fullness or quantity of tone.

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idioms

1. speak volumes,

   1. to be very evident or significant.

      Her testimony spoke volumes.

   2. to be expressive or meaningful.

      Your eyes speak volumes.

volume British  

/ ˈvɒljuːm /

noun

1.  V.  the magnitude of the three-dimensional space enclosed within or occupied by an object, geometric solid, etc

2. a large mass or quantity

   the volume of protest

3. an amount or total

   the volume of exports

4. fullness or intensity of tone or sound

5. the control on a radio, etc, for adjusting the intensity of sound

6. a bound collection of printed or written pages; book

7. any of several books either bound in an identical format or part of a series

8. the complete set of issues of a periodical over a specified period, esp one year

9. history a roll or scroll of parchment, papyrus, etc

10. to convey much significant information

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volume Scientific  

/ vŏl′yo̅o̅m /

1. The amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object or region of space. Volumes are expressed in cubic units.

2. A measure of the loudness or intensity of a sound.

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volume Cultural  

1. In mathematics, the amount of space occupied by an object measured in three dimensions, expressed in cubic units. In physics, the loudness of a sound.

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volume More Idioms  

1. see speak volumes.

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Synonym Usage

See size ¹.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• volumes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of volume

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English volum(e), from Middle French, from Latin volūmen “roll (of sheets),” from volū- (base of volvere “to roll, turn, twist”) + -men, noun suffix

Explanation

Volume can mean how much space something takes up. You could measure a bean's volume by placing it in water and measuring the water's rise. You can also use volume as you measure sound or the number of books in a series. Your mom might demand that you turn down the volume on your stereo as she reaches for the next volume of Dante's Divine Comedy. She would rather read about Hell in silence.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

volume volumes

“FY27 guidance also broadly better than market expected across the board, with Wodgina a strong beat on volume and costs, and capex slightly better on a like-for-like basis,” it says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

It justifies the name change by saying that the deepest part of the lake is on the American side, meaning that the United States "claims most of the Lake's volume."

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

Halley said he plans to invest $2 million to $6 million into the facility, including additional staff and LED volume walls.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

To seal the deals, however, they committed Enviva to later buy a greater volume of pellets from RWE at the same sky-high prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

The Incorrigibles chanted at high volume as they marched around Penelope’s cot.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

But equity-only put-call ratios remain bullish, as they continue to fall — meaning activity in bullish call options is rising relative to volumes in bearish put options.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026

State-owned Prestwick Airport was also particularly busy with freight flights, seeing a near three-fold year-on-year increase in cargo volumes.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Until the 1980s, carpets were Kashmir's top export, but volumes have since steadily declined, with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East the latest blows to the trade.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

“Coyote vs. Acme” speaks volumes without saying a word.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

And I know her definition of “tired” can fill volumes.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• amount
• figure
• number
• quantity
• size
• total