Voluminal

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Concerning the measurement of space in three dimensions, relating to the capacity or size measured in volume, and associated with the extent of an object's physical dimensions in cubic form
2. Pertaining to how much three-dimensional space something occupies, involving the quantification of volume or capacity, and tied to the overall dimensions or size of a physical entity
3. Relating to the measurement or consideration of the amount of space an object occupies in three dimensions

Etymology: "Voluminal" is built from "volume" and the adjective suffix "-al," so it means "of or relating to volume." The surprising part is the noun it rests on. "Volume" comes from Latin "volumen," meaning a roll or scroll, from "volvere," "to roll." A book in the ancient world was a rolled sheet of writing, so a "volumen" was literally something rolled up. The sense of a quantity of space came later, from the idea of how much a container or body could hold. The adjective inherits that later, measurable sense, which is why it refers to three-dimensional space rather than to books.

Synonyms: spatial, size-related, bulk-related, three-dimensional, capacity-related

Antonyms: flat, two-dimensional, minimal, insufficient, reduced