|
  • Search Results
  • Advanced Search
  • List Builder
  • Random Word

voice

Literally, your voice is the sound coming out of your mouth. Metaphorically, voice can also mean the way people express themselves.

People have high voices, low voices, quiet voices, and loud voices — but the concept of voice goes well beyond people talking or singing. Writers talk about finding their voice, which means they've developed a unique identity or style. A lawyer can be your voice in court, where he can speak to the judge about your concerns. If you are shut out of some process, then you have no voice in that process.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: voice

1
 nv
the sound made by the vibration of vocal folds modified by the resonance of the vocal tract
utter with vibrating vocal chords
2
 nv
a means or agency by which something is expressed or communicated
give voice to
3
 n
an advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose
4
 n
(linguistics) the grammatical relation (active or passive) of the grammatical subject of a verb to the action that the verb denotes
FULL DEFINITIONS OF: voice
1

n the sound made by the vibration of vocal folds modified by the resonance of the vocal tract

“a singer takes good care of his voice”
Synonyms:
phonation, vocalisation, vocalism, vocalization, vox
Types:
show 10 types...
hide 10 types...
singing voice
the musical quality of the voice while singing
sprechgesang, sprechstimme
a style of dramatic vocalization between singing and speaking
voice over
the voice on an unseen commentator in a film of television program
bass, bass voice, basso
the lowest adult male singing voice
baritone, baritone voice
the second lowest adult male singing voice
tenor, tenor voice
the adult male singing voice above baritone
alto, countertenor
the highest adult male singing voice
alto, contralto
the lowest female singing voice
mezzo, mezzo-soprano
the female singing voice between contralto and soprano
soprano
the highest female voice; the voice of a boy before puberty
Type of:
communication
something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups

n the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

“A shrill voice sounded behind us”
Types:
androglossia
a woman's voice with male qualities
Type of:
sound
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

n the ability to speak

“he lost his voice”
Types:
lung-power
the ability to speak loudly
Type of:
physical ability
the ability to perform some physical act; contrasting with mental ability

n a sound suggestive of a vocal utterance

“the noisy voice of the waterfall”
“the incessant voices of the artillery”
Type of:
sound
the sudden occurrence of an audible event

n the melody carried by a particular voice or instrument in polyphonic music

Synonyms:
part
Types:
show 10 types...
hide 10 types...
primo
the principal part of a duet (especially a piano duet)
secondo
the second or lower part of a duet (especially a piano duet)
voice part
a part written for a singer
accompaniment, backup, musical accompaniment, support
a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts
bass, bass part
the lowest part in polyphonic music
canto
the highest part (usually the melody) in a piece of choral music
descant, discant
a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody
vamp
an improvised musical accompaniment
ground bass
a short melody in the bass that is constantly repeated
basso continuo, continuo, figured bass, thorough bass
a bass part written out in full and accompanied by numbers to indicate the chords to be played
Type of:
air, line, melodic line, melodic phrase, melody, strain, tune
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence

v utter with vibrating vocal chords

Synonyms:
sound, vocalise, vocalize
Antonyms:
devoice
utter with tense vocal chords
Types:
chirk
make a shrill creaking, squeaking, or noise, as of a door, mouse, or bird
quaver, waver
give off unsteady sounds, alternating in amplitude or frequency
Type of:
articulate, enounce, enunciate, pronounce, say, sound out
speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
2

n a means or agency by which something is expressed or communicated

“the voice of the law”
“the Times is not the voice of New York”
“conservatism has many voices”
Type of:
agency, means, way
how a result is obtained or an end is achieved

n something suggestive of speech in being a medium of expression

“the wee small voice of conscience”
“the voice of experience”
“he said his voices told him to do it”
Type of:
communication
something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups

n expressing in coherent verbal form

“I gave voice to my feelings”
Synonyms:
articulation
Type of:
expression, verbal expression, verbalism
the communication (in speech or writing) of your beliefs or opinions

v give voice to

“He voiced his concern”
Type of:
express, give tongue to, utter, verbalise, verbalize
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
3

n an advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose

Synonyms:
interpreter, representative, spokesperson
Types:
show 7 types...
hide 7 types...
ambassador
an informal representative
flack, flack catcher, flak, flak catcher
a slick spokesperson who can turn any criticism to the advantage of their employer
mouth, mouthpiece
a spokesperson (as a lawyer)
spokesman
a male spokesperson
spokeswoman
a female spokesperson
bagman, commercial traveler, commercial traveller, roadman, traveling salesman, travelling salesman
a salesman who travels to call on customers
tallyman
one who sells goods on the installment plan
Type of:
advocate, advocator, exponent, proponent
a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea

n (metonymy) a singer

“he wanted to hear trained voices sing it”
Type of:
singer, vocaliser, vocalist, vocalizer
a person who sings
4

n (linguistics) the grammatical relation (active or passive) of the grammatical subject of a verb to the action that the verb denotes

Types:
active, active voice
the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is performing the action or causing the happening denoted by the verb
passive, passive voice
the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb
Type of:
grammatical relation
a linguistic relation established by grammar
Launch
WORD FAMILY
USAGE EXAMPLES