vocal cords

American  

plural noun

Anatomy.

1. either of the two pairs of folds of mucous membrane projecting into the cavity of the larynx.

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vocal cords British  

plural noun

1. either of two pairs of mucomembranous folds in the larynx. The upper pair ( false vocal cords ) are not concerned with vocal production; the lower pair ( true vocal cords or vocal folds ) can be made to vibrate and produce sound when air from the lungs is forced over them See also glottis

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vocal cords Scientific  

/ vō′kəl /

1. The two folded pairs of membranes in the larynx (voice box) that vibrate when air that is exhaled passes through them, producing sound.

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vocal cords Cultural  

1. Two folds of tissue located in the larynx that vibrate when air passes over them, producing the sound waves associated with talking and singing.

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Etymology

Origin of vocal cords

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

The muscles around my vocal cords were behaving improperly, squeezing too hard instead of relaxing when they should.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2026

At the time, she felt it was impossible to take time off, and experimented with singing in a lower register to ease the stress on her vocal cords.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Speaking in a strained whisper, the effect of a rare illness of the vocal cords, Page suggested that Hassabis’s company-building endeavors might be similarly pointless.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Voice loss often becomes permanent when scar tissue forms on the vocal cords.

From Science Daily • Jan. 2, 2026

It must have been my own voice, because now I know, of course, that crabs have no vocal cords.

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan