I. ˈvōt, usu -ōd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English (Scots), from Latin votum vow, wish — more at vow
1.
a. : a usually formal expression of opinion or will in response to a proposed decision ; especially : one given as an indication of approval or disapproval of a proposal, motion, or candidate for office
proposal was rejected by 5 votes in favor, 51 against, with two abstentions — U.N. Bulletin
4000 write-in votes for another candidate — H.H.Martin
— see casting vote
b. : the total number of such expressions of opinion made known at a single time (as at an election)
to increase its vote the party must appeal to the farmers
their aggregate popular vote in that region fell below 1200 — H.R.Penniman
polled a large vote
c. : an expression of opinion or preference that is held to resemble a vote
the consumer, by his votes when he buys or fails to buy, is the ultimate sovereign in a free economy — Eugene Staley
deserves a vote of thanks for his hard work
d. : ballot 1
members … who cast their vote into a single urn — E.S.Stavelay
2. : the collective opinion or verdict of a body of persons expressed by voting
the legislative vote on any issue thus tends to represent … the balance of power among the contending groups — Earl Latham
refused to take a vote on the question
chosen by the vote of the people of the city
3. : the right to cast a vote
every member of the community … should have a vote in electing those delegates — William Blackstone
specifically : the right of suffrage : franchise
the 19th Amendment gave American women the vote in national elections
4.
a. : the act or process of voting
the question came to a vote
elect judges by popular vote — F.A.Ogg & P.O.Ray
put a question to the vote
b. : a method of voting
roll-call vote
5. obsolete
a. : a prayer of intercession : entreaty , petition
the heavens consent … in answer to the public votes — Ben Jonson
b. : an earnest desire : wish
the glory of God, is to be the alpha and omega of all our votes and desires — Robert Sanderson
6. obsolete : belief , report
by common vote , reputed the greatest empire in the Orient — Thomas Herbert
7. : a decision passed by or carried in an assembly as the result of voting : a formal expression of a wish, will, or choice (as in regard to a proposed measure) voted by a meeting
giving the votes of Parliament the authority of laws — Alexander Mudie
— compare censure 6, confidence 6d
8.
a. : a person who is merely an embodiment of the right to vote
from a patriot of distinguish'd note have … purg'd me to a simple vote — Alexander Pope
b. : voter
took up his challenge in the name of the 39,000 stay-at-home votes — J.J.Chapman
9.
a. : a number of voters or potential voters constituting a group usually with some common and identifying characteristics
appeals to the Polish vote
b. : the collective opinion expressed through voting of such a group
elections in which the independent vote has obviously tipped the balance — John Lodge
especially : the electoral support of such a group
Democrats need to worry about losing the Negro vote — Samuel Lubell
10. chiefly Britain
a. : a proposition to be voted upon ; especially : a legislative money item
nearly two hundred votes, covering all branches of administrative expenditure … comprise the estimates — T.E.May
b. : appropriation
prisons had to be equipped and staff paid out of the annual votes for the naval services — Olive Anderson
11. often capitalized : a daily record of proceedings in the House of Commons — usually used in plural
no motion for the issue of a new writ shall be made without previous notice … in the votes — T.E.May
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
1. : to express one's views in response to a poll
vote by a show of hands
especially : to exercise a political franchise
was interested in politics long before he was old enough to vote
2. : to express an opinion
voted by acts ranging from sullenness to suicide against the regime — D.W.Treadgold
transitive verb
1.
a. : to choose or endorse by vote : elect , ratify
vote a straight party ticket
the resolution was voted by a two-thirds majority
— often used with in
vote in the whole slate of officers
b. : to decide the disposition of by vote
one British colony after another … was voting itself into an American state — Dorothy C. Fisher
a small membership meeting … voted the organization out of existence — Newsweek
c. : to defeat by vote
vote down a motion
vote an incumbent out of office
d. : to authorize by vote
vote an appropriation
voted an adequate force for the expedition — S.J.Buck
voted the president special emergency powers
2.
a. : to adjudge by general agreement : declare
got talking who was the cleverest man … and we voted it was you — Frances H. Eliot
b. : to offer as a suggestion : move , propose
I vote we anchor out here — C.S.Forester
3.
a. : to cause to vote in a given way : control the franchise of
mobilize small armies of cheap laborers … to be voted at the polls for a consideration — C.G.Bowers
build up a bloc of … states which could be voted as a unit — Newsweek
b. : to cause to be cast for or against a proposal in accordance with the wishes of the owner
nearly all the … stockholders mail proxies to me so I can vote them at the meetings — Erle Stanley Gardner
III. verb
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- vote with one's feet