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voice

n. · v.
US //ˈvɔɪs// UK //vˈɔɪs// voice
  1. 1 sound of speaking/singing (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the sound you make through your mouth when you speak or sing.

    the sound produced by the vibration of the vocal cords in human speech or song.

    Example

    She had a very soft voice, so I had to lean in to hear her.

    Example

    The singer's voice resonated throughout the auditorium, capturing the audience's attention with its remarkable range and clarity.
  2. 2 opinion or influence (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the right to express your opinion or have a say in a decision.

    the expression of a particular opinion or the right to participate in a decision-making process.

    Example

    The students wanted a voice in how the school spent its budget.

    Example

    Citizens demanded a stronger voice in the legislative process, arguing that their concerns were being ignored by the local council.
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  1. 3 literary style (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic Literature

    the unique style or personality of a writer or a character in a book.

    the distinctive style or manner of expression of an author or a character within a literary work.

    Example

    The author uses a funny, youthful voice to tell the story.

    Example

    Critics praised the novelist for developing a unique narrative voice that felt both authentic to the setting and emotionally resonant.
  2. 4 grammatical category (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

    a way of using verbs to show if the subject is doing the action or receiving it.

    a grammatical category that describes the relationship between the action expressed by a verb and the participants identified by its arguments.

    Example

    In the sentence 'The cake was eaten,' the verb is in the passive voice.

    Example

    The professor advised the students to use the active voice in their essays to make their arguments more direct and engaging.

    Usage

    Commonly refers to 'active voice' or 'passive voice'.

  3. 5 musical part (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Music

    one of the different parts or melodies in a piece of music.

    an independent melodic line or instrumental part within a polyphonic composition.

    Example

    The choir has four different voices: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.

    Example

    The fugue features four distinct voices that enter one after another, creating a complex layer of harmony.
  4. 6 to express an opinion (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    to say what you think or feel out loud.

    to give verbal expression to a thought, feeling, or opinion.

    Example

    Several employees voiced their concerns about the new office rules.

    Example

    During the town hall meeting, residents were encouraged to voice any objections they had to the proposed construction project.
  5. 7 to provide a character's sound (v.)
    B1 Intermediate film

    to provide the speech for a character in a cartoon or video game.

    to perform the vocal part of a character in an animated film, television show, or game.

    Example

    The famous actor was chosen to voice the hero in the new animated movie.

    Example

    She has voiced dozens of characters in popular video games, ranging from small children to elderly villains.

Etymology 1

From Middle English voice, voys, vois, borrowed from Anglo-Norman voiz, voys, voice, Old French vois, voiz (Modern French voix), from Latin vōcem, accusative form of vōx (“voice”), from Proto-Indo-European wṓkʷs, root noun from wekʷ- (“to utter, speak”). Cognate with Sanskrit वाच् (vāc), Ancient Greek ὄψ (óps), Persian آواز (âvâz). Displaced native Middle English steven (“voice”) (from Old English stefn (see steven)), Old English hlēoþor, Old English woþ, and Old English reord. Compare advocate, advowson, avouch, convoke, vocal, vouch, vowel. Doublet of vox.

Etymology 2

From Middle English voysen, voicen, from the noun (see above).

Idioms7 entries

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