vole

¹ American  

[vohl] / voʊl /

noun

1. any of several small mouselike or ratlike rodents of the genus Microtus and related genera, having short limbs and a short tail.

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vole ² American  

[vohl] / voʊl /

noun

1. Cards. the winning by one player of all the tricks of a deal.

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idioms

1. go the vole,

   1. to venture everything on the chance of great rewards.

   2. to try one after another, as a variety of occupations.

      He went the vole and finally settled on watchmaking.

vole ¹ British  

/ vəʊl /

noun

1. any of numerous small rodents of the genus Microtus and related genera, mostly of Eurasia and North America and having a stocky body, short tail, and inconspicuous ears: family Cricetidae See also water vole

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vole ² British  

/ vəʊl /

noun

1. (in some card games, such as écarté) the taking of all the tricks in a deal, thus scoring extra points

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Etymology

Origin of vole¹

1795–1805; short for volemouse field mouse, perhaps < Norwegian *vollmus, equivalent to voll field ( cf. wold ¹) + mus mouse

Origin of vole²

1670–80; < French, derivative of voler to fly < Latin volāre

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vole

Water vole volunteers 'get very excited by flattened poo'

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

Conservationists say mink have a devastating impact on other wildlife, with the water vole, the UK's fastest-declining mammal, their main targets.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

Prairie vole pairs are able to bond in the absence of oxytocin, though, indicating that other pathways may kick in.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

"And if a water vole went over the top of that, that would be the end of that water vole."

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026

Whereas a vole can consume about 200 cocoons a day, a shrew, depend ing on the species, may devour up to 800!

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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