INDEX:
1. the sounds someone makes when they speak
2. a rough voice
3. a high voice
4. a low voice
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ SOUND
↑ SPEAK
↑ TALK
↑ SHOUT
↑ SCREAM
↑ HIGH
↑ LOW (2)
◆◆◆
1. the sounds someone makes when they speak
▷ voice /vɔɪs/ [countable noun]
▪ She has a very high, squeaky voice.
▪ I could hear Dan’s angry voice shouting ‘stupid idiot’.
▪ There was a note of irritation in her voice.
▪ She was startled to hear voices coming from upstairs.
in a loud/high/deep etc voice
▪ ‘Sorry I’m late’, she said, in a low voice.
▷ tone /təʊn/ [countable/uncountable noun]
the way someone speaks, especially when this shows the way they feel :
▪ He kept his tone formal.
tone of
▪ I often detect a tone of regret in her voice.
in an friendly/angry/embarrassed etc tone
▪ ‘This is Julia’, Jo said, in a friendly tone.
▪ She was speaking in a rather irritated tone.
in hushed tones
quietly
▪ Mary ushered her into the church, speaking in hushed tones.
tone of voice
▪ She was almost hypnotised by his mellow tone of voice.
2. a rough voice
▷ rough /rʌf/ [adjective]
not sounding soft or gentle, especially because the person speaking is angry or rude :
▪ ‘What are you doing in here?’ shouted the farmer in a rough voice.
rough with
▪ Fran was shaking her urgently, his voice rough with concern.
roughly [adverb]
▪ ‘Well, what are you waiting for? Get a move on!’ said the guard roughly.
▷ throaty /ˈθrəʊti/ [adjective]
deep and rough, as if the sounds are produced deep down in your throat :
▪ Julie had a throaty voice that made her sound older than she was.
▪ She always spoke with a throaty German accent.
▷ husky /ˈhʌski/ [adjective]
slightly rough, as though you have a sore throat, but also attractive and deep :
▪ Stephen put his arms around her and his voice became a soft, husky whisper.
▪ Caron Wheeler’s rich, husky vocal is perfect for the song’s mellow soulfulness.
huskily [adverb]
▪ Mel cleared his throat and chuckled huskily.
▷ gruff /grʌf/ [adjective]
deep and rough, especially when the speaker is feeling annoyed or being rude and does not want to talk much :
▪ ‘If this happens again,’ said Dad, in a gruff voice, ‘I shall be extremely angry!’
▪ He was an irritable old man, who seldom spoke except to say a gruff hello.
gruffly [adverb]
▪ The doorman asked me gruffly for my identity card.
▷ hoarse /hɔːʳs/ [adjective]
rough and not very clear, especially because your throat is sore as a result of illness or too much shouting, singing etc :
▪ You sound very hoarse. Do you have a cold?
▪ His voice dropped to a hoarse whisper.
shout yourself hoarse
British shout so much that you become hoarse
▪ He had shouted himself hoarse in his frenzied efforts to attract attention.
hoarsely [adverb]
▪ ‘Sorry, I’m losing my voice,’ Sam whispered hoarsely.
hoarseness [uncountable noun]
▪ The hoarseness in Brenda’s voice made it very difficult to hear her over the phone.
3. a high voice
▷ high /haɪ/ [adjective]
▪ I recognized Juliet’s high, excited voice on the phone immediately.
▷ high-pitched /ˌhaɪ ˈpɪtʃt◂/ [adjective]
high and often unpleasant or annoying to listen to :
▪ Her voice was clear but rather high-pitched.
▪ The commentary was punctuated by high-pitched giggles.
▷ piercing /ˈpɪəʳsɪŋ/ [adjective]
very high and loud, and unpleasant or painful to listen to :
▪ Her voice was nasal and piercing.
▪ He raised his hands and let out a piercing shriek.
▪ There came a piercing cry from the back of the cinema.
▷ shrill /ʃrɪl/ [adjective]
very high and loud and unpleasant to listen to :
▪ As Sophie became angry her voice got shriller.
▪ Sylvie burst out in a shrill laugh before leaving the room.
▷ squeaky /ˈskwiːki/ [adjective]
a squeaky voice keeps changing between being too high and being normal, especially because there is something wrong with your throat :
▪ He’s had a throat infection for over a week and his voice has gone squeaky.
▪ a band with a squeaky vocal style
4. a low voice
▷ low /ləʊ/ [adjective]
▪ Martin’s voice was low, with a note of sadness in it.
▪ Gripping his stomach, he let out a low moan.
▷ deep /diːp/ [adjective]
if a man’s voice is deep, it is very low, especially in an attractive way. If a woman’s voice is deep, it is very low, like a man’s voice :
▪ He has a deep, reassuring voice,
▪ I tried to make my voice sound deeper when I answered the phone.
▷ rich /rɪtʃ/ [adjective]
a rich voice is low, strong, and pleasant to listen to :
▪ The lead actor’s rich voice claimed the attention of the audience.
▪ He sang in a deep, rich baritone.
▷ resonant /ˈrezənənt/ [adjective]
a resonant voice is deep, loud, and clear :
▪ Billy’s voice had a deep, resonant tone that was a pleasure to hear.
▪ ‘Listen,’ Toranaga interrupted in his resonant, commanding voice.