vocal

[ voh-kuhl ]

/ ˈvoʊ kəl /

adjective

of, relating to, or uttered with the voice: the vocal mechanism; vocal criticism.

rendered by or intended for singing: vocal music.

having a voice: A dog is a vocal, but not a verbal, being.

giving forth sound with or as with a voice.

inclined to express oneself in words, especially copiously or insistently: a vocal advocate of reform.

Phonetics.

noun

a vocal sound.

a musical piece for a singer, usually with instrumental accompaniment.Compare instrumental(def 6).

Nearby words

vocab, vocab., vocable, vocabulary, vocabulary entry, vocal, vocal cord, vocal cord nodules, vocal cords, vocal fold, vocal folds

Origin of vocal

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin vōcālis, equivalent to vōc- (stem of vōx) voice + -ālis -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR vocal

5 vociferous, outspoken.

Related forms

vo·cal·i·ty

[voh-kal-i-tee] /voʊˈkæl ɪ ti/, vo·cal·ness, nounvo·cal·ly, adverbnon·vo·cal, adjective, nounnon·vo·cal·ly, adverb

non·vo·cal·ness, nounnon·vo·cal·i·ty, noun

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

Examples from the Web for vocality

The sinewy pressure of Average Jones' wrist smothered further attempts at vocality to a gurgle.
Average Jones|Samuel Hopkins Adams
But the consonants must, of course, be distinctly articulated and not be drowned in the vocality.
The Voice and Spiritual Education|Hiram Corson
Should any breath be spent in aspiration, or in hissing, or in guttural enunciation, the vocality is said to be impure.
The Ontario Readers: The High School Reader, 1886|Ministry of Education
I sat down and he put the bit of vocality in my arms, and then hastened after its dinner.
Medoline Selwyn's Work|Mrs. J. J. Colter

This, pitched on a flat and haughty level of vocality, was her method of opening the conversation.
Little Miss Grouch|Samuel Hopkins Adams

British Dictionary definitions for vocality

vocal

/ (ˈvəʊkəl) /

adjective

of, relating to, or designed for the voicevocal music

produced or delivered by the voicevocal noises

connected with an attribute or the production of the voicevocal organs

frequently disposed to outspoken speech, criticism, etca vocal minority

full of sound or voicesa vocal assembly

endowed with a voice

eloquent or meaningful

phonetics

of or relating to a speech sound
of or relating to a voiced speech sound, esp a vowel

noun

a piece of jazz or pop music that is sung

a performance of such a piece of music

Derived Forms

vocality (vəʊˈkælɪtɪ), nounvocally, adverb

Word Origin for vocal

C14: from Latin vōcālis possessed of a voice, from vōx voice

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

Medicine definitions for vocality

vocal

[ vō′kəl ]

adj.

Of or relating to the voice.

Capable of emitting sound or speech.

vocal

adjective

noun

RELATED CONTENT

Nearby words

Origin of vocal

SYNONYMS FOR vocal

Related forms

Examples from the Web for vocality

British Dictionary definitions for vocality

vocal

adjective

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for vocal

Medicine definitions for vocality

vocal

adj.