volume

The word “volume” means how loud a sound is, or the control that adjusts it. In plain terms, how loud something is, how much space it takes up, or how much of something there is in total — plus, a single book in a set.

“Volume” is pronounced VOL-yoom (/ˈvɑl.jum/ in IPA).

Here is “volume” used in a sentence: “Could you turn the volume down, please?”

“Volume” is a noun.

The word “volume” comes from Latin. From Latin volumen, "a roll" or "scroll," from volvere, "to roll" — ancient books were literally rolled scrolls before the codex format existed.

“Volume” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Volume” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: how loud a sound is, or the control that adjusts it.

Volume is how loud or quiet a sound is — its intensity. Pitch is how high or low a sound is, from a deep bass to a shrill whistle. You can raise the volume without changing the pitch, and sing the same pitch loudly or softly. They are separate properties of sound.

Volume is changed using a control such as a knob, dial, slider, or a pair of up and down buttons on a device, remote, or app. Turning it up makes the sound louder; turning it down makes it quieter, and muting silences it completely.

The two overlap heavily in everyday use. Loudness is the actual perceived intensity of a sound, while volume often refers to the setting or control that determines that intensity — the volume knob sets how loud the output will be. In casual speech, though, people use them interchangeably.