# voicing

/ˈvɔɪsɪŋ/ (US) · /vˈɔɪsɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/voicing
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. expressing an opinion

noun · CEFR B2

the act of saying or expressing a thought, feeling, or worry out loud.

For teachers: the act of giving verbal expression to a thought, opinion, or grievance.

- The meeting allowed for the voicing of many different concerns about the new rules.
- The public forum provided a necessary platform for the voicing of local opposition to the proposed industrial development.

### 2. musical chord arrangement

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the specific way the notes of a chord are spaced out or ordered.

For teachers: the specific distribution or arrangement of the individual notes of a chord across different octaves or instruments.

- The pianist used a beautiful voicing that made the simple song sound very modern.
- By employing a wide open voicing in the brass section, the composer achieved a sense of vastness and clarity in the orchestral texture.

### 3. vocal cord vibration

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

the sound made when your vocal cords vibrate while you speak.

For teachers: the articulatory process or phonological feature characterized by the vibration of the vocal folds during speech production.

- In English, the difference between 's' and 'z' is mainly a matter of voicing.
- The linguist analyzed the degree of voicing in the final consonants to determine the speaker's regional dialect.

### 4. instrument adjustment

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the final adjustment of an instrument's parts to make sure the tone is perfect.

For teachers: the process of adjusting the physical components of an instrument, such as organ pipes or piano hammers, to ensure tonal consistency.

- After the organ was built, the expert spent weeks on the voicing of each pipe.
- The technician performed a meticulous voicing of the concert grand piano to mellow its overly bright upper register.

## Examples

- The pianist used a wide voicing for the final chord.
- By changing the voicing of the opening chords, the composer created a much darker and more mysterious atmosphere.
- The arranger experimented with orchestral voicing, placing the root in the double basses while the woodwinds provided a shimmering cluster of upper extensions to create a sense of ethereal tension.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.