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vote

[voht]
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noun
  1. a formal expression of opinion or choice, either positive or negative, made by an individual or body of individuals.
  2. the means by which such expression is made, as a ballot, ticket, etc.
  3. the right to such expression: to give women the vote.
  4. the decision reached by voting, as by a majority of ballots cast: The vote was for the resolution.
  5. a collective expression of will as inferred from a number of votes: the labor vote.
  6. an expression, as of some judgment: a vote of confidence.
verb (used without object), vot·ed, vot·ing.
  1. to express or signify will or choice in a matter, as by casting a ballot: to vote for president.
verb (used with object), vot·ed, vot·ing.
  1. to enact, establish, or determine by vote: to vote a proposed bill into law.
  2. to support by one's vote: to vote the Republican ticket.
  3. to advocate by or as by one's vote: to vote that the report be accepted.
  4. to declare or decide by general consent: They voted the trip a success.
  5. to encourage or cause to vote, especially in a particular way.

Origin of vote

1425–75; late Middle English (noun) < Latin vōtum a vow
Related formspre·vote, noun, verb, pre·vot·ed, pre·vot·ing.re·vote, verb, re·vot·ed, re·vot·ing.re·vote, nounun·vot·ed, adjectiveun·vot·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for voting

vote

noun
  1. an indication of choice, opinion, or will on a question, such as the choosing of a candidate, by or as if by some recognized means, such as a ballot10 votes for Jones
  2. the opinion of a group of persons as determined by votingit was put to the vote; do not take a vote; it came to a vote
  3. a body of votes or voters collectivelythe Jewish vote
  4. the total number of votes castthe vote decreased at the last election
  5. the ticket, ballot, etc, by which a vote is expressed
    1. the right to vote; franchise; suffrage
    2. a person regarded as the embodiment of this right
  7. a means of voting, such as a ballot
  8. mainly British a grant or other proposition to be voted upon
verb
  1. (when tr, takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to express or signify (one's preference, opinion, or will) (for or against some question, etc)to vote by ballot; we voted that it was time to adjourn; vote for me!
  2. (intr) to declare oneself as being (something or in favour of something) by exercising one's voteto vote socialist
  3. (tr; foll by into or out of, etc) to appoint or elect (a person to or from a particular post)they voted him into the presidency; he was voted out of office
  4. (tr) to determine the condition of in a specified way by votingthe court voted itself out of existence
  5. (tr) to authorize, confer, or allow by votingvote us a rise
  6. (tr) informal to declare by common opinionthe party was voted a failure
  7. (tr) to influence or control the voting ofdo not try to vote us!
Derived Formsvotable or voteable, adjectivevoteless, adjective

Word Origin

C15: from Latin vōtum a solemn promise, from vovēre to vow
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

Word Origin and History for voting

vote

v.

1550s in the modern sense; see vote (n.). Earlier it meant "to vow" to do something (1530s). Related: Voted; voting.

vote

n.

mid-15c., from Latin votum "a vow, wish, promise, dedication," noun use of neuter of votus, past participle of vovere "to promise, dedicate" (see vow).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper