voice

[ vois ]
See synonyms for: voicevoicedvoicesvoicing on Thesaurus.com
noun

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  7. an expressed opinion or choice: a voice for compromise.

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

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

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

  11. a singer: one of our best voices.

  12. a voice part: a score for piano and voice.

  13. Phonetics. the audible result of phonation and resonance.

  14. 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.

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

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

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

  2. Music.

    • to regulate the tone of, as the pipes of an organ.

    • to write the voice parts for (music).

  1. to utter with the voice.

  2. Phonetics. to pronounce with glottal vibration.

  3. to interpret from sign language into spoken language.

adjective

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

  2. 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 about voice

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

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

Origin of voice

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, (noun) from Anglo-French voiz, voice or directly from Old French voiz, vois, from Latin vōcem, accusative of vōx; akin to vocāre “to call,” Greek óps “voice,” épos “word” (see epic), Sanskrit vakti “(he) speaks”

Other words for voice

Other words from voice

  • voicer, noun
  • outvoice, verb (used with object), out·voiced, out·voic·ing.
  • un·der·voice, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use voice in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for voice

voice

/ (vɔɪs) /

noun

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

  2. the natural and distinctive tone of the speech sounds characteristic of a particular person: nobody could mistake his voice

  1. the condition, quality, effectiveness, or tone of such sounds: a hysterical voice

  2. the musical sound of a singing voice, with respect to its quality or tone: she has a lovely voice

  3. the ability to speak, sing, etc: he has lost his voice

  4. a sound resembling or suggestive of vocal utterance: the voice of the sea; the voice of hard experience

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

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

  7. an agency through which is communicated another's purpose, policy, etc: such groups are the voice of our enemies

  8. music

    • musical notes produced by vibrations of the vocal cords at various frequencies and in certain registers: a tenor voice

    • (in harmony) an independent melodic line or part: a fugue in five voices

  9. 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

  10. 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 relation: See active (def. 5), passive (def. 5), middle (def. 5)

  11. obsolete rumour

  12. (foll by of) obsolete fame; renown

  13. in voice in a condition to sing or speak well

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

  15. with one voice unanimously

verb(tr)

  1. to utter in words; give expression to: to voice a complaint

  2. to articulate (a speech sound) with voice

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

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

Origin of voice

1
C13: from Old French voiz, from Latin vōx

Derived forms of voice

  • voicer, noun

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

Other 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.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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