/ ˈvəʊkl; NAmE ˈvoʊkl/ adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
[ only before noun ] connected with the voice :
vocal music
the vocal organs (= the tongue, lips, etc.)
➡ note at spoken
2.
telling people your opinions or protesting about sth loudly and with confidence :
He has been very vocal in his criticism of the government's policy.
The protesters are a small but vocal minority.
■ noun
[ usually pl. ] the part of a piece of music that is sung, rather than played on a musical instrument :
backing vocals
In this recording Armstrong himself is on vocals .
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin vocalis , from vox , voc- . Current senses of the noun date from the 1920s.