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Webster 1913 Edition

Vocal

Vo′cal

(vō′kal)
,
Adj.
[L.
vocalis
, fr.
vox
,
vocis
, voice: cf. F.
vocal
. See
Voice
, and cf.
Vowel
.]
1.
Of or pertaining to the voice or speech; having voice; endowed with utterance; full of voice, or voices.
To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade,
Made
vocal
by my song.
Milton.
2.
Uttered or modulated by the voice; oral;
as,
vocal
melody;
vocal
prayer
.
“Vocal worship.”
Milton.
3.
Of or pertaining to a vowel or voice sound; also, spoken with tone, intonation, and resonance; sonant; sonorous; – said of certain articulate sounds.
4.
(Phon.)
(a)
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; sonant; intonated; voiced. See
Voice
, and
Vowel
, also Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 199-202.
(b)
Of or pertaining to a vowel; having the character of a vowel; vowel.
Vocal cords
or
Vocal chords
.
Noun.
pl.
(Anat.)
The two pairs of mucous membranes that project into the larynx, and which produce the sounds of speech by vibrating under the influence of air exhaled from the lungs. See
Larynx
, and the Note under
Voice
,
Noun.
, 1.
–
Vocal fremitus
[L.
fremitus
a dull roaring or murmuring]
(Med.)
,
the perceptible vibration of the chest wall, produced by the transmission of the sonorous vibrations during the act of using the voice.
–
Vocal music
,
music made by the voice, in distinction from
instrumental music
; hence, music or tunes set to words, to be performed by the human voice.
–
Vocal tube
(Anat.)
,
the part of the air passages above the inferior ligaments of the larynx, including the passages through the nose and mouth.

Vo′cal

(vō′kal)
,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
vocal
, LL.
vocalis
.]
1.
(Phon.)
A vocal sound; specifically, a purely vocal element of speech, unmodified except by resonance; a vowel or a diphthong; a tonic element; a tonic; – distinguished from a subvocal, and a nonvocal.
2.
(R. C. Ch.)
A man who has a right to vote in certain elections.

Webster 1828 Edition

Vocal

VO'CAL

,
Adj.
[L. vocalis. See Voice.]
1.
Having a voice.
To hill or valley, fountain or fresh shade, made vocal by my song.
2.
Uttered or modulated by the voice; as vocal melody; vocal prayer; vocal praise.
Vocal music, music made by the voice, in distinction from instrumental music; hence, music or tunes set to words, to be performed by the human voice.

VO'CAL

,
Noun.
Among the Romanists, a man who has a right to vote in certain elections.

Definition 2024

vocal

vocal

See also: vocâl

English

Adjective

vocal ‎(comparative more vocal, superlative most vocal)

  1. Of or pertaining to the voice or speech
    vocal problems
  2. Having a voice
    • (Can we date this quote?) Milton,
      To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, / Made vocal by my song.
  3. Uttered or modulated by the voice; oral
    vocal melody
    vocal prayer
    vocal worship
  4. Of or pertaining to a voice sound; spoken
  5. (phonetics) 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; sonant; intonated; voiced. See voice, and vowel
  6. (phonetics) Of or pertaining to a vowel; having the character of a vowel; vowel
    a vocal sound
  7. loud; getting oneself heard.
    The protesters were very vocal in their message to the mayor.

Derived terms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

Noun

vocal ‎(plural vocals)

  1. (phonetics) A vocal sound; specifically, a purely vocal element of speech, unmodified except by resonance; a vowel or a diphthong; a tonic element; a tonic; distinguished from a subvocal, and a nonvocal
  2. (Roman Catholic Church) A man who has a right to vote in certain elections.

Related terms

Asturian

Etymology

Latin vōcālis.

Noun

vocal f ‎(plural vocales)

  1. A vowel.

Catalan

Etymology

Latin vōcālis.

Pronunciation

  • (Balearic) IPA(key): /voˈkal/
  • (Central) IPA(key): /buˈkal/
  • (Valencian) IPA(key): /voˈkal/
  • Rhymes: -al

Adjective

vocal m, f ‎(masculine and feminine plural vocals)

  1. vocal

Noun

vocal f ‎(plural vocals)

  1. vowel

French

Pronunciation

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin vōcālis. Doublet of voyelle.

Adjective

vocal m ‎(feminine singular vocale, masculine plural vocaux, feminine plural vocales)

  1. vocal, related to the voice

Related terms

Old French

Etymology

Latin vōcālis.

Adjective

vocal m ‎(oblique and nominative feminine singular vocale)

  1. vocal (relating to a voice or voices)

Descendants

Portuguese

Adjective

vocal m, f ‎(plural vocais, comparable)

  1. vocal (of or pertaining to the voice or speech)
  2. vocal (uttered or modulated by the voice)

Related terms

Spanish

Etymology

Latin vōcālis.

Noun

vocal f ‎(plural vocales)

  1. vowel

Noun

vocal m, f ‎(plural vocales)

  1. voter, member with vote rights

Adjective

vocal m, f ‎(plural vocales)

  1. by means of the voice
  2. related to the voice
  3. using the voice

Etymology

From Old French vocal from Latin vōcālis.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈvəʊkəl/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈvoʊkəl/

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