Etymology Late Middle English vocal, borrowed from Latin vōcālis (“uttering a voice, sounding, speaking”), from vōx (“a voice, sound, tone”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix). Doublet of vowel and vocalis. Compare Old French vocal.
Of, pertaining to, or resembling the human voice or speech.
vocal problems
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Anatomy, Medicine, Sciences Used in the production of speech sounds.
vocal apparatus
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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music Relating to, composed or arranged for, or sung by the human voice.
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Human sciences, Linguistics, Phonetics, Phonology, Sciences 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.
Uttered or modulated by the voice; expressed in words.
vocal melody, vocal prayer, vocal worship
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Expressing opinions or feelings freely, loudly, or insistently.
The protesters were very vocal in their message to the mayor.
Hendy has come out as something of an evangelist for discontinuous electrification. For Waterloo-Exeter, this could make real sense on a route where the high capital cost of wiring or third rail all the way to Devon would be prohibitive. But what about his vocal support for it on East West Rail, which is effectively a brand new line?2025 February 19, Paul Clifton, “I am absolutely committed to reforming the railway”, in RAIL, number 1029, page 41:
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Having or exercising the power of producing voice, speech, or sound.
To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, Made vocal by my song.1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost:
The tide flows down, the wave again Is vocal in its wooded walls: My deeper anguish also falls, And I can speak a little then.1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XIX”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 32:
Etymology Late Middle English vocal, borrowed from Latin vōcālis (“uttering a voice, sounding, speaking”), from vōx (“a voice, sound, tone”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix). Doublet of vowel and vocalis. Compare Old French vocal.
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Human sciences, Linguistics, Phonetics, Phonology, Sciences A vocal sound; specifically, a purely vocal element of speech, unmodified except by resonance; a vowel or a diphthong; a tonic element; a tonic.
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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music A part of a piece of music that is sung.
Best cuts: "The Evil Dude," "Kung Fu, Too!" "Mama Love," "New Orleans" (with a punchy vocal by Teresa Brewer).1975, Billboard, volume 87, number 24, page 50: