• More from M-W
  • To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Definition of volume

 (Entry 1 of 3)

volume table

Definition of volume  (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

intransitive verb

Definition of volume  (Entry 3 of 3)

  • lashings [ chiefly British ]
  • lashins
  • multiplicity

bulk , mass , volume mean the aggregate that forms a body or unit.

bulk implies an aggregate that is impressively large, heavy, or numerous.

mass suggests an aggregate made by piling together things of the same kind.

volume applies to an aggregate without shape or outline and capable of flowing or fluctuating.

Examples of volume in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'volume.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin volumen roll, scroll, from volvere to roll — more at wallow entry 1

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

1815, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

circa 1945, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing volume

  • alcohol by volume

Articles Related to volume

book parts page

Parts of a Book: Quire, Colophon, and...

Parts of a Book: Quire, Colophon, and More

There are a lot of chapters in this collection.

image33683556

Obscure Units of Measurement Quiz

Do you know these uncommon units of measurement? Learning them could enrich your life immeasurably.

Dictionary Entries Near volume

volume color

Cite this Entry

“Volume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/volume. Accessed 25 Feb. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of volume.

Middle English volume "a book, a scroll of papyrus," from early French (same meaning), from Latin volumen "roll, scroll," from volvere "to roll" — related to revolve

Medical Definition

Medical definition of volume, more from merriam-webster on volume.

Nglish: Translation of volume for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of volume for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about volume

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries.  Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

8 grammar terms you used to know, but forgot, homophones, homographs, and homonyms, commonly misspelled words, a guide to em dashes, en dashes, and hyphens, absent letters that are heard anyway, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - feb. 23, 10 scrabble words without any vowels, 12 more bird names that sound like insults (and sometimes are), 9 superb owl words, 'gaslighting,' 'woke,' 'democracy,' and other top lookups, games & quizzes.

Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Parts, books, volumes, etc

August 19, 2022

What are parts of books called?

Books are generally divided into three sections: front matter, principal text, and back matter .

What are the 5 parts of a book?

Design and content make up the entirety of the book, including the title, introduction, body, conclusion, and back cover . In order to write a book in full, you need to have all the moving parts to make it not only good but also effective.

What are volumes in books?

A volume is one book in a series of books . … the first volume of his autobiography. 4. countable noun.

What are the divisions of a book?

A chapter (capitula in Latin; sommaires in French) is any of the main thematic divisions within a writing of relative length, such as a book of prose, poetry, or law . A chapter book may have multiple chapters that respectively comprise discrete topics or themes. In each case, chapters can be numbered, titled, or both.

Why are books called volumes?

A volume is a physical book. It may be printed or handwritten. The term is commonly used to identify a single book that is part of a larger collection . Volumes are typically identified sequentially with Roman or Arabic numerals, e.g. “volume 3” or “volume III”, commonly abbreviated to “Vol.”.

What’s the difference between volume and part?

Part [of Series]/Book. A self-contained story either released alone or as a part of series. The primary unit, has its own title. Volume – a physical subdivision of a Book, a piece contained within one binder (or one physical file.)

What makes up a book?

A book is a medium for recording information in the form of writing or images, typically composed of many pages (made of papyrus, parchment, vellum, or paper ) bound together and protected by a cover. The technical term for this physical arrangement is codex (plural, codices).

What is smaller than a chapter?

Section breaks are used to signal various changes in a story, including changes in time, location, point-of-view character, mood, tone, emotion, and pace. As a fiction-writing mode, the section break can be considered a transition, similar to a chapter break.

What is the table of contents in a book?

A table of contents, usually headed simply Contents and abbreviated informally as TOC, is a list, usually found on a page before the start of a written work, of its chapter or section titles or brief descriptions with their commencing page numbers .

What does 2 volumes mean?

If the sample contains 50mL of sample, then adding “two volumes” of water means to add 100mL of water to the original 50mL of sample . If the original sample contains 2mL, then adding “one volume” of alcohol means that 4mL of alcohol should be added. Diluting “s:n”

How do you find the volume of a book?

Explanation: Volume is given multiplication of length, width and thickness . 27⋅21⋅6.8=3,855.6 cc (cubic centimeter).

Where do you find the volume of a book?

The volume number follows the title of the book and comes after the edition statement (when there is one), it is enclosed in parentheses . Example: Scott, L. (2011).

What does Vol 2 mean in series?

Vol. is used as a written abbreviation for volume when you are referring to one or more books in a series of books .

What is a series of books called?

A series of 3 books = Trilogy . A series of 4 books = Tetralogy. A series of 5 books = Pentalogy. A series of 6 books = Hexology. A series of 7 books = Heptalogy.

Why is stranger things 4 in 2 volumes?

Stranger Things creators the Duffer brothers decided to split the 2022 season into two volumes because of the sheer length of the episodes .

Related posts

IRSC Libraries Home

APA 7th Edition Style Guide: Volume/Issue

  • About In-text Citations
  • In-Text Examples
  • What to Include
  • Volume/Issue
  • Bracketed Descriptions
  • URLs and DOIs
  • Book with Editor(s)
  • Book with No Author
  • Book with Organization as Author
  • Book with Personal Author(s)
  • Chapters and Parts of Books
  • Classical Works
  • Course Materials
  • Journal Article
  • Magazine Article
  • Multi-Volume Works
  • Newspaper Article
  • Patents & Laws
  • Personal Communication
  • Physicians' Desk Reference
  • Social Media
  • Unpublished Manuscripts/Informal Publications (i.e. course packets and dissertations)
  • Formatting Your Paper
  • Formatting Your References
  • Annotated Bibliography
  • Headings in APA
  • APA Quick Guide
  • NEW!* Submit your Paper for APA Review

Volumes and Issues

Both volume and issue information, if present, is required in references for books and journals.

Books    

A book that is part of a multivolume set  will have a volume number in the reference. Abbreviate the word Volume as Vol. and Volumes as Vols. followed by the Arabic volume number. The volume number follows the title of the book and comes after the edition statement (when there is one), it is enclosed in parentheses.

Scott, L. (2011). Parental nutrition.  Clinical nutrition (2nd ed., Vol. 3)....

Kyle, P. (2003). People and places (Vols. 1-5)...

Both volume and issue numbers are required in references to journal articles. Not all journals have issue numbers.

Write all volume numbers as Arabic numerals and italicize (no abbreviation for volume). The issue number proceeds immediately after the volume and is not italicized. Place all issue information within parentheses.

5 is the volume number and 3 is the issue number: Advertising to Adolescents: An Examination of Skepticism. (2011). Global Journal of Business Research, 5 (3), 85-91.        

3 is the volume number and 4 is the issue number: Moreira, J. P. (2010, December). Health literacy: A new dimension for healthcare development. Journal of Marketing & Management in Healthcare, 3 (4), 239-240.

  • << Previous: Editions
  • Next: Pagination >>
  • Last Updated: Feb 13, 2024 6:21 PM
  • URL: https://irsc.libguides.com/APA

books volumes meaning

Go to the homepage

Definition of 'volume'

IPA Pronunciation Guide

Video: pronunciation of volume

Youtube video

volume in American English

Volume in british english, examples of 'volume' in a sentence volume, related word partners volume, trends of volume.

View usage over: Since Exist Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

Browse alphabetically volume

  • volume control
  • volume dial
  • volume discount
  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'V'

Related terms of volume

  • high volume
  • huge volume
  • mole volume
  • pore volume
  • slim volume
  • View more related words

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Score: 0 / 5

Image

Wordle Helper

Tile

Scrabble Tools

Image

  • Daily Crossword
  • Word Puzzle
  • Word Finder
  • Word of the Day
  • Synonym of the Day
  • Word of the Year
  • Language stories
  • All featured
  • Gender and sexuality
  • All pop culture
  • Grammar Coach ™
  • Writing hub
  • Grammar essentials
  • Commonly confused
  • All writing tips
  • Pop culture
  • Writing tips

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

one book of a related set or series.

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

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

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

a mass or quantity, especially a large quantity, of something: a volume of mail.

amount; total: the volume of sales.

the degree of sound intensity or audibility; loudness: to turn up the volume on a radio.

fullness or quantity of tone.

Idioms about volume

speak volumes ,

to be very evident or significant: Her testimony spoke volumes.

to be expressive or meaningful: Your eyes speak volumes.

Origin of volume

Synonym study for volume, words nearby volume.

  • volumetric analysis
  • volumetric displacement

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use volume in a sentence

This influx of small traders has helped spur a 68% increase in call-options volume activity this year.

Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation, but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles, videos, and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires.

For 5G base stations, they might be able to last a little bit longer because the volume there isn’t as high.

Or, you could figure out the volume of a cone, followed by a wedge.

In fact, organic results can get 15 times the CTR of paid search results if you rank well on a high search volume keyword, and that’s because people just don’t trust advertisements.

The books in the study include a set of Shaw's plays with the first volume inscribed to Hitchcock from GBS.

The Met is noteworthy not only for its house size, however, but for the sheer volume of its season.

Tragically, Cary did not live to complete the second volume , and in 2000 I began work in earnest on this book.

Several commentators have written off the entire midterms because of the volume of attacks and deepening partisanship.

This book is essentially volume two of that biography; Leverich, who died in 1999, asked Lahr to continue his work.

We prefer the American volume of Hochelaga to the Canadian one, although both are highly interesting.

Other things being equal, the volume of voice used measures the value that the mind puts upon the thought.

The improvement of transport still further swelled the volume of production.

This gives to the second volume something of the smell of an apple store-room.

The increased volume of the supply thus produced inevitably forces down the price till it sinks to the point of cost.

British Dictionary definitions for volume

/ ( ˈvɒljuːm ) /

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

a large mass or quantity : the volume of protest

an amount or total : the volume of exports

fullness or intensity of tone or sound

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

a bound collection of printed or written pages; book

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

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

history a roll or scroll of parchment, papyrus, etc

speak volumes to convey much significant information

  • Abbreviations (for senses 6–8): v , vol

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for volume

[ vŏl ′ yōōm ]

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

A measure of the loudness or intensity of a sound.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for volume

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.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with volume

see speak volumes.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

  • Dictionaries home
  • American English
  • Collocations
  • German-English
  • Grammar home
  • Practical English Usage
  • Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
  • Word Lists home
  • My Word Lists
  • Recent additions
  • Resources home
  • Text Checker

Definition of volume noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Want to learn more?

Find out which words work together and produce more natural-sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

books volumes meaning

Meaning of volume in English

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

volume noun ( AMOUNT )

  • One box may look bigger than the other, but in fact they are roughly equal in volume.
  • Local activist groups have become increasingly vociferous as the volume of traffic passing through the village has grown .
  • What is the volume of the water tank ?
  • I think this pan has a larger volume than yours.
  • The transport system can't cope with the volume of passengers .
  • good things come in small packages idiom
  • small-scale
  • so much idiom

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

volume noun ( SOUND LEVEL )

  • Turn the little knob to adjust the volume.
  • We told them to crank up the volume.
  • The volume of music from the club has caused complaints .
  • They try to make up for their lack of musical talent by sheer volume.
  • The music will sound better if you adjust the volume of the bass .
  • anti-satellite
  • autodialler
  • non-computer
  • non-network
  • video conference
  • watch party

volume noun ( BOOK )

  • He lifted a fat volume down from the shelf .
  • Waugh's first volume of memoirs dealt with his childhood and youth .
  • He penetrates deeper into the artist's life in the second volume of his autobiography .
  • She picked up a thick volume and began to read out loud .
  • This is the eighth volume in the series , which totals 21 volumes in all.
  • exercise book
  • multi-volume

volume | American Dictionary

Volume noun ( space ), volume | business english, examples of volume, collocations with volume.

These are words often used in combination with volume .

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

Translations of volume

Get a quick, free translation!

{{randomImageQuizHook.quizId}}

Word of the Day

the act of driving too closely behind the vehicle in front

Infinitive or -ing verb? Avoiding common mistakes with verb patterns (1)

Infinitive or -ing verb? Avoiding common mistakes with verb patterns (1)

books volumes meaning

Learn more with +Plus

  • Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
  • Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
  • Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
  • Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
  • English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
  • English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
  • English–Dutch Dutch–English
  • English–French French–English
  • English–German German–English
  • English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
  • English–Italian Italian–English
  • English–Japanese Japanese–English
  • English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
  • English–Polish Polish–English
  • English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
  • English–Spanish Spanish–English
  • English–Swedish Swedish–English
  • Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
  • volume (AMOUNT)
  • volume (SOUND LEVEL)
  • volume (BOOK)
  • volume (SPACE)
  • Collocations
  • Translations
  • All translations

Add volume to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

Back Home

  • Science Notes Posts
  • Contact Science Notes
  • Todd Helmenstine Biography
  • Anne Helmenstine Biography
  • Free Printable Periodic Tables (PDF and PNG)
  • Periodic Table Wallpapers
  • Interactive Periodic Table
  • Periodic Table Posters
  • How to Grow Crystals
  • Chemistry Projects
  • Fire and Flames Projects
  • Holiday Science
  • Chemistry Problems With Answers
  • Physics Problems
  • Unit Conversion Example Problems
  • Chemistry Worksheets
  • Biology Worksheets
  • Periodic Table Worksheets
  • Physical Science Worksheets
  • Science Lab Worksheets
  • My Amazon Books

Volume Definition in Science

Volume Definition and Formulas

Volume is defined as the three-dimensional space occupied by matter or enclosed by a surface. The SI unit of volume is the cubic meter (m3), but many units exist. Other volume units include the liter (L), cubic centimeter (cm3), fluid ounce (fl oz), pint (pt), quart (qt), gallon (gal), teaspoon (tsp), and tablespoon (tbls).

Examples of Volume

Examples of volume are common in daily life:

  • A student uses a graduated cylinder to measure the volume of a chemical solution in milliliters.
  • Depending on the country, a baker measures liquid volumes in milliliters, fluid ounces, teaspoons, and tablespoons.
  • You can purchase a quart, half-gallon, or gallon of milk.
  • Many wine bottles hold 750 ml of wine.
  • Gases are sold in units of volume, including cubic liters and cubic centimeters.

How to Measure Volume of Solids, Liquids, and Gases

  • Solid volume – You can measure dimensions and use formulas to find the volume of regular geometric shapes. Calculus calculates the volume of irregular shapes. The volume of a solid may be determined by its fluid displacement.
  • Liquid volume – Measure liquid volume using calibrated containers. Examples include graduated cylinders and burets. Often, the volume obtained by mixing liquids is additive, but this is not always the case. The volume of miscible liquids (such as alcohol and water) may be less than the sum of the separate volumes. Also, dissolving solids into liquids doesn’t always result in additive volume.
  • Gas volume – A gas assumes the volume of its container. Sometimes the volume of a gas is determined by its displacement of a liquid.

Volume vs Mass

Volume is the amount of space occupied by a substance, while mass is how much matter it contains. Density is the amount of mass per unit of volume. It’s possible to have volume without mass, such as an enclosed vacuum.

Difference Between Volume and Capacity

The capacity of a container is not necessarily the same as its volume. It is the interior volume of a vessel. For example, a 500-ml beaker has a capacity of 500 milliliters, but you can fill the glassware past its mark. If you measure the exterior dimensions of the container, its volume is greater than its capacity.

Related Posts

  • Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

David French

What Is Christian Nationalism, Exactly?

A woman wearing a white and red shawl prays as she faces an American flag on a chain-link fence.

By David French

Opinion Columnist

If you’re alarmed by the rise of Christian nationalism, the single worst thing you can do is define it too broadly. If you define it too broadly, then you’re telling millions of ordinary churchgoing citizens that the importation of their religious values into the public square somehow places them in the same camp or on the same side as actual Christian supremacists, the illiberal authoritarians who want to remake America in their own fundamentalist image.

Enter the new feature-length documentary “ God and Country ,” which examines the role of Christian nationalism in American politics. Even before I knew that Rob Reiner (the director of “A Few Good Men”) was involved in the project, I agreed to be interviewed by the filmmakers for two key reasons: First, I wanted to make sure that I could offer a sensible definition of Christian nationalism, one that didn’t cast aspersions on Christians simply for bringing their values into the public square. And second, I wanted to outline exactly why actual Christian nationalism presents a real danger to our Constitution.

To understand what Christian nationalism is, it’s important to understand what it is not. It is not Christian nationalism if a person’s political values are shaped by the individual’s Christian faith. In fact, many of America’s most important social movements have been infused with Christian theology and Christian activism. Many of our nation’s abolitionists thundered their condemnations of slavery from Northern pulpits . The civil rights movement wasn’t exclusively Christian by any means, but it was pervasively Christian — Martin Luther King Jr. was, of course, a Baptist minister.

Anyone may disagree with Christian arguments around civil rights, immigration, abortion, religious liberty or any other point of political conflict. Christians disagree with one another on these topics all the time, but it is no more illegitimate or dangerous for a believer to bring her worldview into a public debate than it is for a secular person to bring his own secular moral reasoning into politics. In fact, I have learned from faiths other than my own, and our public square would be impoverished without access to the thoughts and ideas of Americans of faith.

The problem with Christian nationalism isn’t with Christian participation in politics but rather the belief that there should be Christian primacy in politics and law. It can manifest itself through ideology, identity and emotion. And if it were to take hold, it would both upend our Constitution and fracture our society.

The sociologists Samuel Perry and Andrew Whitehead define Christian nationalism as a “cultural framework that blurs distinctions between Christian identity and American identity, viewing the two as closely related and seeking to enhance and preserve their union.” The author and pastor Matthew McCullough defines Christian nationalism as “an understanding of American identity and significance held by Christians wherein the nation is a central actor in the world-historical purposes of the Christian God.” Both definitions are excellent, but what does ideological Christian nationalism look like in practice?

In 2022, a coalition of right-wing writers and leaders published a document called “National Conservatism: A Statement of Principles.” Its section on God and public religion states: “Where a Christian majority exists, public life should be rooted in Christianity and its moral vision, which should be honored by the state and other institutions both public and private.” That’s an extraordinary — and ominous — ideological statement, one that would immediately relegate non-Christians to second-class status. It’s utterly contrary to the First Amendment and would impose a form of compelled deference to Christianity on both religious minorities and the nonreligious.

But Christian nationalism isn’t just rooted in ideology; it’s also deeply rooted in identity, the belief that Christians should rule. This is the heart of the Seven Mountain Mandate , a dominionist movement emerging from American Pentecostalism that is, put bluntly, Christian identity politics on steroids. Paula White, Donald Trump’s closest spiritual adviser, is an adherent , and so is the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, Tom Parker, who wrote a concurring opinion in the court’s recent I.V.F. decision . The movement holds that Christians are called to rule seven key societal institutions: the family, the church, education, the media, the arts, business and the government.

One doesn’t have to go all the way into Seven Mountain theology, though, to find examples of Christian identity politics. The use of Christianity as an unofficial but necessary qualification for office is a routine part of politics in the most churchgoing parts of America. Moreover, one of the common red-America arguments for Trump is that he might not be devout himself, but he’ll place lots of Christians in government.

But what is Christian identity politics but another form of Christian supremacy? How does Christian identity alone make any person a better candidate for office? After all, many of the worst actors in American politics are professed believers. Scandal and corruption are so pervasive in the church that when a person says, “I’m a Christian,” it tells me almost nothing about their wisdom or virtue.

Finally, we can’t forget the intense emotion of Christian nationalism. Most believers don’t follow ideological and theological arguments particularly closely. In the words of the historian Thomas Kidd, “Actual Christian nationalism is more a visceral reaction than a rationally chosen stance.” It is tied, in other words, to a visceral sense that the fate of the church is closely tied to the outcome of any given political race.

That fervor can make believers gullible and potentially even dangerous. Its good-versus-evil dynamic can make Christians believe that their political opponents are capable of anything, including stealing an election. It artificially raises the stakes of elections to the point where a loss becomes an unthinkable catastrophe, with the fates of both church and state hanging in the balance. As we saw on Jan. 6, 2021, this belief invites violent action.

Committed Christian nationalists represent only 10 percent of the population, according to a 2023 PRRI/Brookings Christian Nationalism Survey. But even members of a minority that small can gain outsize power when they fold themselves into the larger Christian electorate, casting themselves as “just like you.” That’s why we cannot conflate Christian activism with Christian nationalism. One can welcome Christian participation in the public square while resisting domination, from any faith or creed.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , X and Threads .

David French is an Opinion columnist, writing about law, culture, religion and armed conflict. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a former constitutional litigator. His most recent book is “Divided We Fall: America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation .” You can follow him on Threads ( @davidfrenchjag ).

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

Corporate politics can feel just like high school drama — but there are ways to cope

  • Workplace conflict often looks like high school drama, according to consultant Rosalind Wiseman.
  • Wiseman, whose book inspired "Mean Girls," advises employees and execs on how to deal with conflict.
  • She said finding an advocate you trust and building relationships can help.

Insider Today

It's Friday night, and everyone you know is going out, except you weren't invited, and now you're agonizing over why you were left out.

While many high schoolers can relate to the feeling of being excluded, it's not just teens — professionals deal with the same kinds of drama in the workplace, according to Rosalind Wiseman , who provides consulting on company culture and conflict.

Wiseman is no stranger to teen drama — in fact, she literally wrote the book on it. She authored the self-help book "Queen Bees and Wannabes," which served as the basis for the 2004 classic film "Mean Girls."

These days, she still works with parents and teens but also advises companies and public agencies, including executives and employees, on how to navigate conflict and culture at work. Her clients have included the US State Department, UBS Financial Services, and the Los Angeles Bar Association.

"My job is to help people in high-stakes situations manage themselves better," she said.

The corporate world and high school aren't the same, but the similarities are striking

"The answer that I should say is that, 'Oh, adults are so much more mature than kids,'" she told Business Insider when asked about how workplace drama compares to high school. "But my goodness gracious."

Wiseman said workplace drama tends to look different than what you see in high school — teens can be far more "crass" — but the levels of sophistication in which the conflicts and undermining play out can be similar.

It can be like the example raised above, in which an employee is not invited to a happy hour with the rest of the team. Other times, someone might be taking credit for work that was actually done by their colleague. Someone could blame a coworker for a mistake they actually made and talk badly about them to their supervisor.

Whatever the conflict, adults can end up feeling similar to high schoolers — excluded, taken advantage of, or even bullied .

Like teens, adults also tend to ascribe a sort of "mythological power to the people that they are in conflict with at work," making them feel helpless or like there's nothing they can do to remedy the situation, Wiseman said.

Compounding the issue is how blindsided adults can feel when they are faced with this kind of drama, and when they find themselves reacting in a way that feels similar to their 15-year-old selves.

"I think people really convinced themselves that you've moved beyond these stereotypical adolescent coping skills or behaviors as you get older," Wiseman said. "But when things get hard and difficult, these patterns come right back up to the surface and people are like, 'Wait, what? This is just like I'm in middle school.'"

Think about the stories you are telling yourself and find an advocate

The first step, Wiseman said, is to accept and acknowledge that it's normal, and not childish, to feel excluded or undermined and that situations like that can have a very real impact on your career — people make connections and discuss ideas at happy hour, for instance.

"I want people to have a little bit of self-compassion," she said, adding that although addressing conflict can be difficult, there are more productive ways to do it that can be learned.

Another problem Wiseman sees is professionals telling themselves stories about their job that may or may not actually be true. For instance, someone may be convinced that asking for a raise or flagging a concern to their manager could hurt them, or that they will be punished in some way. That fear might prevent them from self-advocating, and eventually switching jobs because they feel like it's their only option.

"But the chances are that you're going to find the same problem," she said. "It's going to come with you because wherever you are, there you are."

In order to get better at managing these conflicts, Wiseman recommends finding an advocate in your workplace — an ally who you trust to talk candidly with about what you are experiencing, help you see the situation cleary, and how to address it.

To find that person, she said you should identify three qualities you want that person to have, and be specific. For instance, if you say "honesty," you may want someone who can be honest with you but in a way that is sensitive, or you may want someone who has more of a tough-love approach.

When you've figured out those qualities, find a person you work with who has them. It can be anyone you work with, a superior or not. Wiseman said you should go to that person, be straightforward with them, and say something like: "I've been thinking about what are the qualities of the people that I work with the best and that I want to work with the most, and I came up with these three characteristics. You actually are the person who fits those words and I just want you to know that."

Wiseman says you can do it in a very casual and organic way. It's all about setting the foundation and building a relationship. Later, when a situation arises, you can go to that person and let them know what conflict you are struggling with and that you'd appreciate their perspective and feedback on it.

Although it may feel awkward or cheesy, establishing that kind of rapport with someone you trust — and actually learning to internalize, take in their feedback, and potentially act on it — can make a big difference in navigating workplace conflict and challenges.

The more you build relationships, she said, "the more thoughtfulness you have about the people that you are working with, the more effective you can be."

books volumes meaning

Watch: Ray Dalio on the next financial crisis, how he started his own hedge fund, transparency at work, and more

books volumes meaning

  • Main content

IMAGES

  1. Books and volumes stock image. Image of literature, dictionary

    books volumes meaning

  2. Volumes vs Volumed: Meaning And Differences

    books volumes meaning

  3. Volumes of Books on Bookshelf in Library Stock Photo

    books volumes meaning

  4. Four book volumes stock image. Image of background, closeup

    books volumes meaning

  5. Volumes of Books on Bookshelf in Library Stock Photo

    books volumes meaning

  6. Book volumes stock image. Image of library, wisdom, numbers

    books volumes meaning

VIDEO

  1. AbeBooks Explains how to Identify a First Edition Book

  2. Essentials of Book Layout

  3. Types of books

  4. Why You Should Read Books

  5. Book

  6. AbeBooks: The Difference Between an Ex-Library & an Ex Libris Book?

COMMENTS

  1. Volume (bibliography)

    A volume is a physical book. It may be printed or handwritten. The term is commonly used to identify a single book that is part of a larger collection. Volumes are typically identified sequentially with Roman or Arabic numerals, e.g. "volume III" or "volume 3", commonly abbreviated to "Vol.". [1]

  2. Volume vs Book: Differences And Uses For Each One

    "Volume" refers to a collection of written or printed pages that are bound together, usually in a single physical object. It can also refer to a specific book in a series or set. On the other hand, "book" generally refers to a written or printed work that is published and available for reading or purchase.

  3. Edition vs Volume: When to Opt for One Term Over Another

    A volume is a single book or a part of a series of books that is bound together. It can also refer to a single book that is part of a larger set, such as an encyclopedia or a multi-volume work. The term volume is often used in the context of books, but it can also be applied to other types of publications such as magazines and journals.

  4. Volumes vs Series: When To Use Each One In Writing?

    Volumes refer to a set of books or other written or printed material that is published together. Here are some examples of how to use volumes in a sentence: The complete works of William Shakespeare were published in 36 volumes. The Encyclopedia Britannica is a 32-volume set of reference books.

  5. Parts of a Book: Quire, Colophon, and More

    Colophon A colophon, whose name is from a Greek word meaning "summit" or "finishing touch," is traditionally an inscription placed at the end of a book or manuscript, usually with facts that relate to its production. These details might include the name of the printer and the date and place of printing.

  6. structure

    brianmearns 786 1 8 18 The most common order I've seen is 'Volume>Book>Part>Section>Chapter>Point' but it depends on what you're writing - fiction, nonfiction, technical, and the like. - Mussri Jan 18, 2013 at 23:03 @Mussri: Waitwaitwait. Section is below Chapter. Section is a * * * break. - SF. Jan 19, 2013 at 13:05

  7. Volume Definition & Meaning

    : the amount of a substance occupying a particular volume c : mass or the representation of mass in art or architecture 4 a : a series of printed sheets bound typically in book form : book b : a series of issues of a periodical c : album sense 1b 5 : scroll sense 1a volumed ˈväl- (ˌ)yümd -yəmd adjective volume 2 of 3 verb volumed; voluming

  8. Book series

    A book series is a sequence of books having certain characteristics in common that are formally identified together as a group. ... Each volume makes up a complete novel by itself, but the entire cycle exhibits unifying characteristics. The metaphor of the roman-fleuve was coined by Romain Rolland to describe his 10-volume cycle Jean-Christophe.

  9. Parts, books, volumes, etc

    A volume is a physical book. It may be printed or handwritten. The term is commonly used to identify a single book that is part of a larger collection. Volumes are typically identified sequentially with Roman or Arabic numerals, e.g. "volume 3" or "volume III", commonly abbreviated to "Vol.". What's the difference between volume and part?

  10. VOLUME

    noun us / ˈvɑːl.juːm / uk / ˈvɒl.juːm / volume noun (AMOUNT) Add to word list [ C or U ] the amount of space that is contained within an object or solid shape: Which of these bottles do you think has a greater volume? B2 [ U ] the number or amount of something in general: It's the sheer volume of traffic in the city that is causing the problems.

  11. APA 7th Edition Style Guide: Volume/Issue

    Books . A book that is part of a multivolume set will have a volume number in the reference. Abbreviate the word Volume as Vol. and Volumes as Vols. followed by the Arabic volume number. The volume number follows the title of the book and comes after the edition statement (when there is one), it is enclosed in parentheses. Example: Scott, L ...

  12. VOLUME definition in American English

    (vɒlyum ) Word forms: volumes plural 1. countable noun The volume of something is the amount of it that there is. Senior officials will be discussing how the volume of sales might be reduced. 2. countable noun The volume of an object is the amount of space that it contains or occupies.

  13. How to Cite Edition, Volume, and Page Numbers for Books

    When citing a chapter, the edition number, the volume number (which is different from a journal's volume number ), and the page range are all enclosed within the same parentheses—in that order—after the title of the book, and they are separated by commas.

  14. VOLUME Definition & Usage Examples

    a collection of written or printed sheets bound together and constituting a book. one book of a related set or series. a set of issues of a periodical, often covering one year. History/Historical. a roll of papyrus, parchment, or the like, or of manuscript. the amount of space, measured in cubic units, that an object or substance occupies.

  15. volume noun

    noun /ˈvɑlyəm/ ,/ˈvɑlyum/ [uncountable, countable] the amount of space that an object or a substance fills; the amount of space that a container has How do you measure the volume of a gas? jars of different volumes Wait until the dough doubles in volume before kneading it again. Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

  16. volume

    the volume of trade see thesaurus at amount 3 space filled [countable usually singular] a measurement of the amount of space that a substance or object fills, or the amount of space in a container volume of an instrument for measuring the volume of a gas The volume of the container measures 10,000 cubic metres. see thesaurus at size 4 book ...

  17. Edited volume

    An edited volume or edited collection is a collection of scholarly or scientific chapters written by different authors. The chapters in an edited volume are original works (not republished works). Alternative terms for edited volume are contributed volume, edited collection and multiauthor volume.All these terms emphasize that the book is a collection of chapters contributed by different ...

  18. Volume Definition & Meaning

    a : a book. This thin little volume is a delightful read. b : a book that is part of a series or set of books. a long novel that was published in three volumes. The first volume of the series was disappointing, but I hear the second volume is better. c : one of the magazines, newspapers, etc., in a series.

  19. Volume

    Define volume. volume synonyms, volume pronunciation, volume translation, English dictionary definition of volume. volume To calculate the volume of a cube, multiply the length of an edge of the cube by itself twice. The volume of this cube is 125 cubic feet. n. 1. ... one of a series of connected books. Where is volume fifteen of the ...

  20. VOLUME

    noun uk / ˈvɒl.juːm / us / ˈvɑːl.juːm / volume noun (AMOUNT) Add to word list [ C or U ] the amount of space that is contained within an object or solid shape: Which of these bottles do you think has a greater volume? B2 [ U ] the number or amount of something in general: It's the sheer volume of traffic in the city that is causing the problems.

  21. Volume Definition in Science

    This entry was posted on September 24, 2020 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on May 2, 2021) Volume definition and formulas for common shapes. Volume is defined as the three-dimensional space occupied by matter or enclosed by a surface. The SI unit of volume is the cubic meter (m3), but many units exist. Other volume units include the liter (L ...

  22. What does volume mean when referring to comic books?

    Two things. First is Stalksprout's bit. But within volumes, there are often smaller volumes, which are the officially titled "Volumes" that are released as trade paperbacks. For example, in the larger scheme of comics, New 52 Batman is Batman Volume 2. Batman Volume 2 Volume 1 is the Court of Owls TPB.

  23. 'Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 4' 4K Ultra HD movie reviews

    Sony offered its fourth collection of critically acclaimed films debuting in the ultra-high definition format that includes "His Girl Friday," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "Kramer ...

  24. Three-volume novel

    The title page of the first volume of the three-volume, first edition of Poor Miss Finch by Wilkie Collins (1872). The three-volume novel (sometimes three-decker or triple decker) was a standard form of publishing for British fiction during the nineteenth century. It was a significant stage in the development of the modern novel as a form of popular literature in Western culture.

  25. Celebrating African Americans and the Arts: The Color Purple

    The book has inspired film and musical adaptations, known as derivative works, of the same name. The movie, released in 1985 and directed by Steven Spielberg, was nominated for eleven Academy Awards. ... In addition, Walker has authored many novels, short story collections, and volumes of poems. Her most recent work, Gathering Blossoms Under ...

  26. What Is Christian Nationalism, Exactly?

    Even before I knew that Rob Reiner (the director of "A Few Good Men") was involved in the project, I agreed to be interviewed by the filmmakers for two key reasons: First, I wanted to make ...

  27. Capital One To Buy Discover: What Will Deal Mean For Customers? (COF

    Capital One Financial Corp., the US lender backed by Warren Buffett, is set to buy Discover Financial Services in a $35 billion deal that would bring together two of the biggest credit card firms ...

  28. Corporate Politics Feels Like High School Drama. Here's How to Cope

    Rosalind Wiseman, whose book inspired "Mean Girls," says there are ways to deal with workplace drama that makes you feel like you're in high school. Menu icon A vertical stack of three evenly ...