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voice

Syllabification: (voice)
Pronunciation: /vois/
Translate voice | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of voice

noun

  • 1the sound produced in a person’s larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song:Meg raised her voice a worried tone of voice
  • an agency by which a particular point of view is expressed or represented:once the proud voice of middle-class conservatism, the paper had fallen on hard times
  • [in singular] the right to express an opinion:the new electoral system gives minority parties a voice
  • a particular opinion or attitude expressed:a dissenting voice
  • the ability to speak or sing:she’d lost her voice
  • (usually voices) the supposed utterance of a guiding spirit, typically giving instructions or advice.
  • the distinctive tone or style of a literary work or author:she had strained and falsified her literary voice
  • 2 Music the range of pitch or type of tone with which a person sings, such as soprano or tenor.
  • a vocal part in a composition.
  • a constituent part in a fugue.
  • each of the notes or sounds able to be produced simultaneously by a musical instrument (especially an electronic one) or a computer.
  • (in an electronic musical instrument) each of a number of preset or programmable tones.
  • 3 Phonetics sound uttered with resonance of the vocal cords (used in the pronunciation of vowels and certain consonants).
  • 4 Grammar a form or set of forms of a verb showing the relation of the subject to the action:the passive voice

verb

[with object]
  • 1express (something) in words:get teachers to voice their opinions on important subjects
  • 2 (usually as adjective voiced) Phonetics utter (a speech sound) with resonance of the vocal cords (e.g., b, d, g, v, z).
  • 3 Music regulate the tone quality of (organ pipes).

Phrases

give voice to

allow (a particular emotion, opinion, or point of view) to be expressed.
allow (a person or group) to express their emotions, opinion, or point of view.

in voice

in proper vocal condition for singing or speaking:the soprano is in marvelous voice

with one voice

in complete agreement; unanimously.

Derivatives

voiced

adjective
[in combination]:deep-voiced

voicer

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French vois, from Latin vox, voc-

Grammar

English verbs have two voices: active:I shut the door. passive:The door was shut by me.

voice in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of voice in the British & World English dictionary
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