volcano
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**vol.ca.no** /ˌvɒlkˈeɪnəʊ; ˌvɔːl-/ *n, pl.* **-noes** or **-nos** **a mountain with a CRATER (=large opening) at the top, and often others on the sides, through which LAVA (=melting rock) steam, gases etc, sometimes escape with explosive force: *An active volcano may erupt at any time*. | *A dormant volcano is quiet at present*. | *An extinct volcano can no longer erupt*.**
**vole** /vəʊl/ *n* [often in comb.] **a small thick-bodied short-tailed animal of the rat and mouse family, which lives in fields, woods, banks of rivers etc**
**Vol.ga, the** /ˈvɒlgə; ˈvɔːl-/ **a river in Russia which flows into the Caspian Sea, and is the longest river in Europe**
**vo.li.tion** /vəˈlɪʃən; -ʃən əˈ/ *n* [U] *fml* **the act of using one's will; one's power to control, decide, or choose: *I didn't tell her to go; she went of her own volition*.**
**Volks.wag.en** /ˈvɒlksˌwɑːgən; ˈvɔːks-/ **abbrev VW trademark a type of car made by the German company Volkswagen, whose products include the GOLF and the BEETLE. Volkswagens are considered to be very RELIABLE cars (=they can be trusted to always work well and not go wrong). → see also ROLLS-ROYCE**
**vol·ley**¹ /ˈvɒli; ˈvɔːli/ *n* **1** [of] **a number of shots fired at the same time: *The soldiers fired a volley into the air as a warning to the rioters*. | (*fig.*) a *volley of curses* | (*fig.*) a *volley of blows* → compare SALVO **2**** a kicking or hitting of a ball before it has hit the ground: *The tennis star played a fine forehand/backhand volley*. | *The footballer kicked the ball on the volley*. → see also HALF VOLLEY
**volley**² *v* **1** [I] [of guns] to be fired all together **2** [T+obj+adv/prep] to hit or kick (a ball) before it has hit the ground: *The footballer volleyed the ball into the back of the net*. **3** [T;T] (in tennis) to make a volley against (one's opponent)
**vol·ley-ball** /ˈvɒlɪˌbɔːl; ˈvɔː-/ *n* [U] **a team game in which a large ball is struck by hand backwards and forwards across a high net without being allowed to touch the ground → see REFEE (USAGE)**
**volt** /vəʊlt; voʊlt/ *n* tech the standard measure of the amount of electrical force needed to produce one AMP of electrical current where the RESISTANCE is one OHM
**volt-age** /ˈvɒltdʒ; ˈvɔːl-/ *n* [C;U] electrical force measured in volts: *a high voltage fence* → compare RESISTANCE
**Vol·taire** /vɒlˈteər; vɔːl-/ (1694–1778) a French writer and PHILOSOPHER was one of the leaders of the ENLIGHTENMENT, and whose ideas influenced the French Revolution. He wrote ESSAYs on many subjects, but his best-known work is the story CANDIDE.
**vol.te-face** /ˌvɒlt ˈfɑːs; ˌvɔːlt-/ *n* [C usually sing.] especially *lit* or *fml* **a change to a completely opposite opinion or course of action: *an extraordinary/surprising volte-face on the part of the government*.**
**vol·u·ble** /ˈvɒljʊbəl; ˈvɔː-/ *adj* *fml*, often *derog* **1** (of a person) talking a lot **2** (of speech) expressed (especially rather fast) with many words: *voluble excuses* → compare VERBOSE
—**bly** *adv* —**bility** /ˌvɒljʊˈbɪləti; ˌvɔː-/ *n* [U]
**vol·ume** /ˈvɒljuːm; ˈvɔːl-/ *n* **1** [U] (degree of) **loudness of sound: *The television's too loud; turn the volume down*. | *the volume control* **2** [U] **the size of a solid thing or of a space, measured by multiplying the length by the width by the depth: *The volume of this container is 100,000 cubic metres*. → compare AREA **3** [C;U] **amount produced by some kind of activity: *The volume of passenger travel on the railways is decreasing*. | *Letters had poured in in large volumes*. **4** [C] **any of a set of books of the same kind or together forming a whole: *We have a set of Dickens's works in 24 volumes*. | *You'll find the article in volume 9 of the encyclopedia*. **5** [C] **fml a book, especially a large one: *His library was full of rare old volumes*. → see also speak volumes (SPEAK)
**vo·lu·mi·nous** /vəˈluːmɪnəs, əˈljuː; ləˈvjuː-/ *adj* *fml* **1** (of a garment) very loose and full; using much cloth: *a voluminous skirt* **2** (of a container) very large; able to hold a lot: *a voluminous suitcase* **3** often *derog* producing or containing much writing: *a voluminous writer* | *a voluminous report*
—**ly** *adv* —**ness** *n* [U]
**vol·un·ta·ry**¹ /ˈvɒləntrɪ; ˈvɔːlən-teri/ *adj* **1** (of a person or action) acting or done willingly, without being forced: *He made a voluntary statement to the police*. | *She took voluntary redundancy*. → compare COMPULSORY **2** [A] acting or done without payment; controlled or supported by people who give their money, services etc, of their own free will: *Many social services are still provided by voluntary societies*. | *At election time the party needs a lot of voluntary helpers*. **3** tech under the control of the will: *the voluntary muscles* → opposite INVOLUNTARY —**tarily** /ˈvɒləntrɪli; ˌvɔːlənteəri-/ *adv*: *He made the promise quite voluntarily*; *I didn't force him to*.
**voluntary**² *n* **a piece of music played in church before or after the service, usually on an ORGAN**
**Voluntary Euthanasia Society, the** **an organization in the UK which aims to change the law that forbids helping seriously ill people to die if they wish to. There is a similar organization in the US called the HEMLOCK SOCIETY.**
**'voluntary school** *n* (in Britain) **a school built by an independent, usually religious organization but which a local education authority is partly or completely financially responsible for. The two kinds of voluntary school are aided schools and controlled schools. → see AIDED SCHOOL, CONTROLLED SCHOOL**
**Voluntary Service Overseas** **the full name of VSO**
**'voluntary work** *n* **work which is done free by someone who wants to do it, usually for an organization that helps people: *When he retired, he did a lot of voluntary work*.**
**CULTURAL NOTE**
Some British and American people spend a period of time doing voluntary work abroad for charities (CHARITY) such as VSO (=Voluntary Service Overseas), a British organization, or the Peace Corps, an American government organization, which help people in developing countries (DEVELOPING COUNTRY) in areas such as AGRICULTURE and education. Traditionally, many people used to do this work immediately after leaving university. VSO, especially, now prefers to use older people with more experience and skills. Some people, especially older people, do voluntary work in their own countries such as working in a charity shop.
**vol·un·teer**¹ /ˌvɒlənˈtɪər; ˌvɔːlənˈtɪər-/ *v* **1** [I (for); T] **to offer (one's services or help) without payment or reward; make a willing offer, especially when others are unwilling: *He volunteered for guard duty*. | [+to-v] *Jenny volunteered to clear up afterwards*. **2** [I (for)] **to offer to join the army, navy, or airforce of one's own free will, without being forced to → compare CONSCRIPT **3** [T] **to tell (something) without being asked: *He volunteered a statement to the police*. | *'It's not my car, it's my father's,' she volunteered*.**
**volunteer**² *n* [(for)] **a person who has volunteered or is willing to volunteer: *This work costs us nothing; it's all done by volunteers*. | *Can I have a volunteer to collect the glasses*? → compare CONSCRIPT
**Volunteers of America** **a NON-PROFIT organization for people in the US who need help, such as children who have been treated badly by their parents, families that do not have enough money, people who do not have a home, and old people who are too weak to take care of themselves. It also gives some medical care and helps people get home that are not too expensive.**
**vo·lup·tu·ary** /vəˈlʌptʃəri; -tuəri-/ *adj* *lit*, usually *derog* **a person who gets great enjoyment from physical comfort, especially sexual activity, and from having expensive things**