I. ˈvȯis noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French vois, from Latin voc-, vox; akin to Old High German gi wahanen to mention, Greek epos word, speech, Sanskrit vāk voice
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : sound produced by vertebrates by means of lungs, larynx, or syrinx ; especially : sound so produced by human beings
b.
(1) : musical sound produced by the vocal folds and resonated by the cavities of head and throat
(2) : the power or ability to produce musical tones
(3) : singer
(4) : one of the melodic parts in a vocal or instrumental composition
(5) : condition of the vocal organs with respect to production of musical tones
(6) : the use of the voice (as in singing or acting)
studying voice
c. : expiration of air with the vocal cords drawn close so as to vibrate audibly (as in uttering vowels and consonant sounds as v or z)
d. : the faculty of utterance
lost my voice
2. : a sound resembling or suggesting vocal utterance
3. : an instrument or medium of expression
the party became the voice of the workers
4.
a. : wish, choice, or opinion openly or formally expressed
the voice of the people
b. : right of expression ; also : influential power
5. : distinction of form or a system of inflections of a verb to indicate the relation of the subject of the verb to the action which the verb expresses
active and passive voice s
•
- with one voice
II. transitive verb
( voiced ; voic·ing )
Date: 15th century
1. : to express in words : utter
voice a complaint
2. : to adjust for producing the proper musical sounds
3. : to pronounce (as a consonant) with voice
Synonyms: see express