vocalise

¹ American  

[voh-kuh-leez] / ˌvoʊ kəˈliz /

noun

1. a musical composition consisting of the singing of melody with vowel sounds or nonsense syllables rather than text, as for special effect in classical compositions, in polyphonic jazz singing by special groups, or in virtuoso vocal exercises.

2. any such singing exercise or vocalized melody.

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vocalise ² American  

[voh-kuh-lahyz] / ˈvoʊ kəˌlaɪz /

verb (used with or without object)

vocalised, vocalising

1. Chiefly British. vocalize.

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vocalise British  

/ ˌvəʊkəˈliːz /

noun

1. a musical passage sung upon one vowel as an exercise to develop flexibility and control of pitch and tone; solfeggio

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Etymology

Origin of vocalise

1870–75; < French vocalise, apparently noun derivative of vocaliser to vocalize, with -ise taken as a noun suffix ( see -ise ²)

Example Sentences

She told the BBC that the first time she was able to vocalise what she had been through was when making the documentary.

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2024

The term vocalise refers to a song without words.

From New York Times • Nov. 12, 2021

She wants more women to vocalise their desires to their partners and to talk about their problems.

From The Guardian • Nov. 25, 2018

Those composers include some from Luther’s time and some from our time, and instrumental chorale preludes appear in Swingle Singers-like vocalise, without the insistent perkiness.

From New York Times • Dec. 13, 2017

Those which were brooding, as they flitted over the nests or clung to the edges, uttering a peculiar note hard to vocalise.

From My Tropic Isle by Banfield, E. J. (Edmund James)