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devocalize

American  
[dee-voh-kuh-lahyz] / diˈvoʊ kəˌlaɪz /
especially British, devocalise

verb (used with object)

Phonetics.
devocalized, devocalizing

  1. devoice.

  2. to convert (a speech sound) from a vowel to a glide.

Other Word Forms

  • devocalization noun

Etymology

Origin of devocalize

First recorded in 1875–80; de- + vocalize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The object was to devocalize the dogs so that their howls would not disturb the patients in the other parts of the hospital.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.