volume
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1 physical space (n.) B1 Intermediate Academic Sciencethe amount of space that an object or substance fills.
the amount of three-dimensional space occupied by an object or substance.
ExampleThe scientist measured the volume of water in the glass beaker.
ExampleAs the temperature of the gas increases, its volume expands unless the pressure is adjusted to compensate.
UsageUncountable when referring to the general concept of space; countable when referring to specific measurements.
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2 loudness (n.) A2 Elementaryhow loud or quiet a sound is.
the degree of loudness or the intensity of a sound.
ExampleCould you please turn down the volume on the television?
ExampleThe speaker adjusted the volume to ensure that his voice reached the back of the auditorium without distorting the audio quality.
UsageUsually uncountable; often used with 'turn up' or 'turn down'.
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3 a book (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Formalone book, especially one that is part of a larger set of books.
a single book, or one of a series of books that form a complete work.
ExampleI found the second volume of the encyclopedia on the top shelf.
ExampleThe library houses a rare first volume of the historical series, bound in original leather and remarkably well-preserved.
UsageCountable; frequently used in academic or archival contexts.
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4 quantity (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Academic Economicsa large amount or total number of something.
the total amount or quantity of something, often in a commercial or industrial context.
ExampleThe shop handles a high volume of customers during the holiday season.
ExampleThe sudden increase in trading volume on the stock market suggested that investors were reacting to the new economic data.
UsageUsually singular; often follows 'high', 'low', or 'large'.
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5 storage area (n.) C1 Advanced Technical Computinga specific area on a computer disk used for storing files.
an identifiable area of data storage with a single file system.
ExampleThe computer warned me that the backup volume was almost full.
ExampleThe system administrator partitioned the hard drive into three separate volumes to better manage the server's data distribution.
UsageCountable; refers to logical rather than physical storage units.
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6 to show clearly (n.) B2 Upper Intermediateto show a lot about a person's feelings or a situation without using words.
to convey a great deal of information or meaning through non-verbal cues.
ExampleThe look on her face spoke volumes about how disappointed she was.
ExampleWhile the CEO remained silent during the press conference, his tense body language spoke volumes to the gathered reporters.
UsageAlmost exclusively used in the plural idiom 'speak volumes'.
From Middle English volume, from Old French volume, from Latin volūmen (“book, roll”), from volvō (“roll, turn about”).