vocal
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈvəʊ.kəl/
ipa: /ˈvoʊ.kəl/
rhymes: -əʊkəl
Forms: form: more vocal
form: most vocal
Etymology: Late Middle English vocal, borrowed from Latin vōcālis (“uttering a voice, sounding, speaking”), from vōx (“a voice, sound, tone”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix). Doublet of vowel and vocalis. Compare Old French vocal.
Senses: examples: text: vocal problems
glosses: Of, pertaining to, or resembling the human voice or speech.
examples: text: vocal apparatus
topics: anatomy
medicine
sciences
glosses: Of, pertaining to, or resembling the human voice or speech.
Used in the production of speech sounds.
topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: Of, pertaining to, or resembling the human voice or speech.
Relating to, composed or arranged for, or sung by the human voice.
topics: human-sciences
linguistics
phonetics
phonology
sciences
glosses: Of, pertaining to, or resembling the human voice or speech.
Consisting of, or characterized by, voice, or tone produced in the larynx, which may be modified, either by resonance, as in the case of the vowels, or by obstructive action, as in certain consonants, such as v, l, etc., or by both, as in the nasals m, n, ng.
synonyms: sonant
intonated
voiced
topics: human-sciences
linguistics
phonetics
phonology
sciences
glosses: Of, pertaining to, or resembling the human voice or speech.
Synonym of vocalic.
synonyms: word: vocalic
examples: text: vocal melody, vocal prayer, vocal worship
synonyms: oral
audible
antonyms: inaudible
quiet
silent
voiceless
glosses: Uttered or modulated by the voice; expressed in words.
examples: text: The protesters were very vocal in their message to the mayor.
text: Hendy has come out as something of an evangelist for discontinuous electrification. For Waterloo-Exeter, this could make real sense on a route where the high capital cost of wiring or third rail all the way to Devon would be prohibitive. But what about his vocal support for it on East West Rail, which is effectively a brand new line?
ref: 2025 February 19, Paul Clifton, “I am absolutely committed to reforming the railway”, in RAIL, number 1029, page 41:
synonyms: oral
audible
outspoken
loud
audible
antonyms: inaudible
quiet
silent
voiceless
inaudible
quiet
silent
glosses: Uttered or modulated by the voice; expressed in words.
Expressing opinions or feelings freely, loudly, or insistently.
examples: text: To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade,
Made vocal by my song.
ref: 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost:
text: The tide flows down, the wave again
⁠Is vocal in its wooded walls:
⁠My deeper anguish also falls,
And I can speak a little then.
ref: 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XIX”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 32:
synonyms: oral
audible
spoken
antonyms: inaudible
quiet
silent
voiceless
glosses: Uttered or modulated by the voice; expressed in words.
Having or exercising the power of producing voice, speech, or sound.
synonyms: word: oral
word: audible
word: expressive
antonyms: inaudible
quiet
silent
voiceless
glosses: Uttered or modulated by the voice; expressed in words.
Synonym of expressive.
synonyms: oral
audible
resounding
antonyms: inaudible
quiet
silent
voiceless
glosses: Uttered or modulated by the voice; expressed in words.
Full of voices.
Derived terms: audiovocal
bivocal
cricovocal
monovocal
nonvocal
polyvocal
semivocal
subvocal
unvocal
vocal blackface
vocal cord
vocal chord
vocal fold
vocal fremitus
vocal fry
vocalism
vocalist
vocality
vocalize
vocalise
vocally
vocal minority
vocal music
vocalness
vocal sac
vocal tract
vocal tube