First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1volume
noun vol·ume \ˈväl-yəm, -(ˌ)yüm\
: the amount of sound that is produced by a television, radio, stereo, etc.
: a knob, lever, etc., that controls the amount of sound something makes
: an amount of something
Full Definition of VOLUME
1
2
: scroll 1a
3
: the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object as measured in cubic units (as quarts or liters) : cubic capacity — see metric system table, weight table
4
5
: the degree of loudness or the intensity of a sound; also : loudness
volume table
See volume defined for English-language learners
See volume defined for kids
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Origin of VOLUME
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin volumen roll, scroll, from volvere to roll
Related to VOLUME
- Synonyms
- abundance, barrel, basketful, boatload, bucket, bunch, bundle, bushel, carload, chunk, deal, dozen, fistful, gobs, good deal, heap, hundred, lashings (also lashins) [chiefly British], loads, mass, mess, mountain, much, multiplicity, myriad, oodles, pack, passel, peck, pile, plateful, plenitude, plentitude, plenty, pot, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, sheaf, shipload, sight, slew, spate, stack, store, ton, truckload, lot, wad, wealth, yard
Synonym Discussion of VOLUME
bulk, mass, volume mean the aggregate that forms a body or unit. bulk implies an aggregate that is impressively large, heavy, or numerous <the darkened bulk of the skyscrapers>. mass suggests an aggregate made by piling together things of the same kind <a mass of boulders>. volume applies to an aggregate without shape or outline and capable of flowing or fluctuating <a tremendous volume of water>.
Other Printing Terms
2volume
verb
vol·umedvol·um·ing
Definition of VOLUME
transitive verb
: to send or give out in volume
intransitive verb
: to roll or rise in volume
First Known Use of VOLUME
1815
3volume
adjective
Definition of VOLUME
: involving large quantities <volume sales>
First Known Use of VOLUME
circa 1945
VOLUMES Defined for Kids
volume
noun vol·ume \ˈväl-yəm, -yüm\
Definition of VOLUME for Kids
1
: 1book 1
2
: one of a series of books that together form a complete work or collection
3
: an amount of space that can be measured in cubic units <The volume of the box is three cubic feet.>
4
: 2amount <a high volume of sales>
5
: a large amount <He received volumes of mail.>
6
: the degree of loudness of a sound <Turn up the volume of the radio.>
Word History of VOLUME
The earliest books were not like the books we read today. Instead of having pages that turn, they were written on rolls of papyrus. The Latin word for such a scroll, volumen, came from the verb volvere, meaning “to roll.” English volume came by way of French from Latin volumen. At first volume meant “scroll” or “book,” but later it came to mean “the size of a book” as well. This sense led to the more general meaning of “size” or “amount”—as in the volume of a jar or the volume of sales. From this sense came still another meaning: “loudness or intensity of sound.”
Medical Dictionary
volume
noun vol·ume \ˈväl-yəm, -(ˌ)yüm\
Medical Definition of VOLUME
1
: the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional figure as measured in cubic units (as inches, quarts, or centimeters) : cubic capacity
2
: the amount of a substance occupying a particular volume
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