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

See Examples For:

vocal cords

When I did Company, I had to take care of my vocal cords so I didn’t talk basically the whole day.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

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

From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026

Her dad said afterward that acid reflux had made her vocal cords swell, necessitating the last-minute switch from live to Memorex.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 2, 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

It doesn't take long for a thought to get from your brain to your vocal cords and out of your mouth, but it does take a moment.

From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green