Etymology : Middle English, from Latin vocalis, from voc-, vox voice; more at VOICE
Pronunciation : 'vO-k&l
Function : adjective
Date : 14th century
1. musical piece which is sung; voiced sound. of or pertaining to the voice, spoken, oral; outspoken. vocal\vo"cal\ , a. [l. vocalis, fr. vox, vocis, voice: cf. f. vocal. see:
voice, and cf. vowel.].
2. 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.
3. uttered or modulated by the voice; oral; as, vocal melody; vocal prayer. "vocal worship.".
4. of or pertaining to a vowel or voice sound; also, poken with tone, intonation, and resonance; sonant; sonorous; -- said of certain articulate sounds.
5. (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.
6. Of or pertaining to the voice or speech; having voice; endowed with utterance; full of voice, or voices.
7. Uttered or modulated by the voice; oral; as, vocal melody; vocal prayer.
8. Of or pertaining to a vowel or voice sound; also, &?;poken with tone, intonation, and resonance; sonant; sonorous; said of certain articulate sounds.
9. 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.
10. See Voice, and Vowel, also Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 199-202.
11. Of or pertaining to a vowel; having the character of a vowel; vowel.
12. 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.
13. A man who has a right to vote in certain elections. full of the sound of voices; "a playground vocal with the shouts and laughter of children" having or using the power to produce speech or sound; "vocal organs"; "all vocal beings hymned their praise" relating to or designed for or using the singing voice; "vocal technique"; "the vocal repertoire"; "organized a vocal group to sing his compositions".
14. 1. You say that people are vocal when they speak forcefully about something that they feel strongly about. He has been very vocal in his displeasure over the results A public inquiry earlier this year produced vocal opposition from residents. + vocally vo·cal·ly Both these proposals were resisted by the developed countries, most vocally by the United States.
15. Vocal means involving the use of the human voice, especially in singing. a wider range of vocal styles. + vocally vo·cal·ly Vocally, it is often a very accomplished performance. the part of a piece of music that is sung rather than played on an instrument on vocals.