voice

[vois]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR voice ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the sound or sounds uttered through the mouth of living creatures, especially of human beings in speaking, shouting, singing, etc.

the faculty or power of uttering sounds through the mouth by the controlled expulsion of air; speech: to lose one's voice.

a range of such sounds distinctive to one person, or to a type of person or animal: Her voice is commanding.

the condition or effectiveness of the voice for speaking or singing: to be in poor voice.

a sound likened to or resembling vocal utterance: the voice of the wind.

something likened to speech as conveying impressions to the mind: the voice of nature.

expression in spoken or written words, or by other means: to give voice to one's disapproval by a letter.

the right to present and receive consideration of one's desires or opinions: We were given no voice in the election.

an expressed opinion or choice: a voice for compromise.

an expressed will or desire: the voice of the people.

expressed wish or injunction: obedient to the voice of God.

the person or other agency through which something is expressed or revealed: a warning that proved to be the voice of prophecy.

a singer: one of our best voices.

a voice part: a score for piano and voice.

Phonetics. the audible result of phonation and resonance.

Grammar.

a set of categories for which the verb is inflected in some languages, as Latin, and which is typically used to indicate the relation of the verbal action to the subject as performer, undergoer, or beneficiary of its action.
a set of syntactic devices in some languages, as English, that is similar to this set in function.
any of the categories of these sets: the English passive voice; the Greek middle voice.

the finer regulation, as of intensity and color, in tuning, especially of a piano or organ.

verb (used with object), voiced, voic·ing.

to give utterance or expression to; declare; proclaim: to voice one's discontent.

Music.

to regulate the tone of, as the pipes of an organ.
to write the voice parts for (music).

to utter with the voice.

Phonetics. to pronounce with glottal vibration.

to interpret from sign language into spoken language.

adjective

Computers. of or relating to the use of human or synthesized speech: voice-data entry; voice output.

Telecommunications. of or relating to the transmission of speech or data over media designed for the transmission of speech: voice-grade channel; voice-data network.

Idioms

the still, small voice, the conscience: He was only occasionally troubled by the still, small voice.

with one voice, in accord; unanimously: They arose and with one voice acclaimed the new president.

Origin of voice

1250–1300; Middle English (noun) < Anglo-French voiz, voice (Old French voiz, vois) < Latin vōcem, accusative of vōx; akin to vocāre to call, Greek óps voice, épos word (see epic), Sanskrit vakti (he) speaks

Related formsvoic·er, nounout·voice, verb (used with object), out·voiced, out·voic·ing.un·der·voice, noun

Synonyms for voice

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR voice ON THESAURUS.COM

5. cry, call. 6. sound, language, speech, tongue. 11. order, command. 12. mouthpiece, organ. 18. reveal, disclose, publish.

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

Related Words for voice

sound, speech, cry, tone, statement, expression, view, vent, deliver, articulate, tell, assert, say, emphasize, utter, announce, proclaim, declare, present, speak

Examples from the Web for voice

Contemporary Examples of voice

When he does, here is a gentleness in his voice, a reflective and lovely quality that no movie he has been in has ever captured.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile
Robert Ward
January 3, 2015
The Millennial Action Project (MAP) seeks to engage young people in politics and give them more of a voice in governing.
When Will We See a #Millennial Congress?
Linda Killian
December 26, 2014
“He is borrowing my voice to tell you this story,” she told the crowd.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda
Ruth Michaelson
December 26, 2014
But we also live with healing, with love, with activism, with a voice.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything
Liz Seccuro
December 16, 2014
“[Writing was] the only way I could get people to listen to me without wondering what was wrong with my voice,” he told the Times.
Chris Colfer on Writing, Acting, and the Pain of Being A Pop Culture Trailblazer
Oliver Jones
December 15, 2014

Historical Examples of voice

Listen to the voice that tries to win you back to innocence and truth!
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
"His countenance and his voice troubled me, like the presence of evil," answered Philothea.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
Persuasive is the voice of Vice, That spreads the insidious snare.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
As I approached her apartment, the voice of Alcibiades met my ear.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
The aged philosopher endeavoured to speak, but his voice was tremulous with emotion.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child

British Dictionary definitions for voice

voice

noun

the sound made by the vibration of the vocal cords, esp when modified by the resonant effect of the tongue and mouthSee also speech Related adjective: vocal

the natural and distinctive tone of the speech sounds characteristic of a particular personnobody could mistake his voice

the condition, quality, effectiveness, or tone of such soundsa hysterical voice

the musical sound of a singing voice, with respect to its quality or toneshe has a lovely voice

the ability to speak, sing, etche has lost his voice

a sound resembling or suggestive of vocal utterancethe voice of the sea; the voice of hard experience

written or spoken expression, as of feeling, opinion, etc (esp in the phrase give voice to)

a stated choice, wish, or opinion or the power or right to have an opinion heard and consideredto give someone a voice in a decision

an agency through which is communicated another's purpose, policy, etcsuch groups are the voice of our enemies

music

musical notes produced by vibrations of the vocal cords at various frequencies and in certain registersa tenor voice
(in harmony) an independent melodic line or parta fugue in five voices

phonetics the sound characterizing the articulation of several speech sounds, including all vowels or sonants, that is produced when the vocal cords make loose contact with each other and are set in vibration by the breath as it forces its way through the glottis

grammar a category of the verb or verbal inflections that expresses whether the relation between the subject and the verb is that of agent and action, action and recipient, or some other relationSee active (def. 5), passive (def. 5), middle (def. 5)

obsolete rumour

(foll by of) obsolete fame; renown

in voice in a condition to sing or speak well

out of voice with the voice temporarily in a poor condition, esp for singing

with one voice unanimously

verb (tr)

to utter in words; give expression toto voice a complaint

to articulate (a speech sound) with voice

music to adjust (a wind instrument or organ pipe) so that it conforms to the correct standards of tone colour, pitch, etc

to provide the voice for (a puppet or cartoon character) in an animated film

Derived Formsvoicer, noun

Word Origin for voice

C13: from Old French voiz, from Latin vōx

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

Word Origin and History for voice

late 13c., "sound made by the human mouth," from Old French voiz, from Latin vocem (nominative vox) "voice, sound, utterance, cry, call, speech, sentence, language, word," related to vocare "to call," from PIE root *wekw- "give vocal utterance, speak" (cf. Sanskrit vakti "speaks, says," vacas- "word;" Avestan vac- "speak, say;" Greek eipon (aorist) "spoke, said," epos "word;" Old Prussian wackis "cry;" German er-wähnen "to mention").

Replaced Old English stefn. Meaning "ability in a singer" is first attested c.1600. Meaning "expression of feeling, etc." (in reference to groups of people, etc., e.g. Voice of America) is recorded from late 14c.

"to express" (a feeling, opinion, etc.), c.1600, from voice (n.). Related: Voiced; voicing.

voice in Medicine

voice

[vois]

n.

The sound made by air passing out through the larynx and upper respiratory tract and produced by the vibration of the vocal organs.

Idioms and Phrases with voice

voice

see at the top of one's lungs (voice); give voice to; have a say (voice) in; raise one's voice; still small voice; with one voice.