volume
/ˈvɒljuːm
/noun
1A book forming part of a work or series: a biography of George Bernard Shaw in three volumes [in combination]: a four-volume work...
- There was huge, leather bound series of volumes of Encyclopaedia Celtica.
- Photographs are of reasonable resolution and the whole layout of the book is more pleasing and open than earlier volumes in the series.
- Eventually the series filled two volumes published in March and May 1788.
1.1A single book or a bound collection of printed sheets: a botanical library of 5,000 volumes her volume of short stories...
- He initially conceived of the drawings in the book to be printed in a bound volume that would have no title, no words, and no instructions to indicate which was the top or bottom.
- It has a distinguished collection of over 35,000 volumes including many rare travel books from the 18th and 19th century.
- The library has a current holding of about 2.2 million volumes in print, which breaks down into 148 holdings per student.
Synonyms
book, publication, tome, hardback, paperback, softback, work, opus, title, treatise, manual, almanac, compendium
1.2A consecutive sequence of issues of a periodical: Chemistry in Britain Volume 28 Number 1...
- So I went to the college library and started to go through the volumes of back issues.
- Sadly only 3 volumes and 30 issues appeared before it was forced to close.
- Under his management the 100th volume was issued in 1938.
1.3 historical A scroll of parchment or papyrus containing written matter.
2 [mass noun] The amount of space that a substance or object occupies, or that is enclosed within a container: the sewer could not cope with the volume of rainwater...
- With negative curvature, space has infinite volume.
- Likewise, a gas will occupy any volume which is made available to it.
- In other words, it takes on the exact shape and volume of its container.
Synonyms
capacity, cubic measure, size, magnitude, largeness, bigness, mass, bulk, extent, extensiveness;
dimensions, proportions, measurements
2.1An amount or quantity of something, especially when great: changes in the volume of consumer spending [count noun]: the volumes of data handled are vast...
- The amount and volume of material we receive each day is huge and unfortunately sometimes it's impossible to answer everybody's pleas.
- A year later, he upgraded the phone system to handle the growing volume of phone orders.
- The business has also been successful in increasing both the value and volume of orders per customer through better customer relationship management.
Synonyms
quantity, amount, proportion, portion, measure, mass, bulk;
level, degree
2.2Fullness or expansive thickness of something, especially of a person’s hair: give your hair volume and bounce with this mousse...
- It gives length and volume, so your hair looks natural.
- He applies a lightweight gloss after blow-drying and before curling to help keep her hair's natural volume and fullness under control and to add shine.
- It prolongs the durability of the curl, enhancing its elasticity and volume without weighing the hair down.
3 [mass noun] Quantity or power of sound; degree of loudness: he turned the volume up on the radio...
- Pianists must rely more heavily on differing volume levels to distinguish voices.
- There are two further console-style buttons on the top of the device, positioned for index-finger usage, and power and volume controls on the base.
- The controls are on top surface of the right-hand satellite speaker but are limited to the power switch and volume control.
Synonyms
loudness, sound, amplification
Derivatives
volumed
[usually in combination]: a four-volumed boxed set...
- It appears to be a book review of a many volumed book attacking the supposed author of the books, and the sentences are convoluted things that rarely come in under 100 words.
- In 1907 he began the publication of his seven volumed work about the Aranda and Loritja tribes.
Origin
Late Middle English (originally denoting a roll of parchment containing written matter): from Old French volum(e), from Latin volumen, volumin- 'a roll', from volvere 'to roll'. An obsolete meaning 'size or extent (of a book)' gave rise to sense 2.