The loudness or softness of a sound is referred to as its volume. In more technical terms, volume relates to the amplitude of the sound wave produced.
When a sound is loud, it has a high amplitude, meaning that the waves are larger and exert more energy. On the other hand, a soft sound has a lower amplitude, indicating smaller waves and less energy. This concept is closely tied to our perception of sound, as we often describe sounds in terms of how loud or soft they seem to us.
In musical contexts, volume can also be described using terms like forte for loud and piano for soft. Additionally, tools like decibels (dB) are used to measure the intensity of sound and provide a more precise quantification of volume.