vocalism

[voh-kuh-liz-uh m]

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noun

Phonetics.

a vowel, diphthong, triphthong, or vowel quality, as in a syllable.
the system of vowels of a language.

the use of the voice, as in speech or song.

the act, principles, or art of singing.

Origin of vocalism

First recorded in 1860–65; vocal + -ism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for vocalism

enunciation, vent, tone, murmur, exclamation, articulation, inflection, shout, speech, statement, call, vociferation, song, modulation, mutter, delivery, vocalization, words, intonation, yell

Examples from the Web for vocalism

Historical Examples of vocalism

The vocalism at this service was by about sixty children and ten ladies of the regular choir.
History of the Catholic Church in Paterson, N.J.
Charles A. Shriner
The aged pianist had often listened to her vocalism with enraptured gaze, and she believed he, too, was her slave.
The Son of Clemenceau
Alexandre (fils) Dumas

British Dictionary definitions for vocalism

vocalism

noun

the exercise of the voice, as in singing or speaking

singing, esp in respect to technique or skill

phonetics

a voiced speech sound, esp a vowel
a system of vowels as used in a language

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