vocal

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.

adj

1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling the human voice or speech.
   1. (anatomy) Used in the production of speech sounds.
      vocal apparatus
   2. (music) Relating to, composed or arranged for, or sung by the human voice.
   3. (phonetics) 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.
   4. (phonetics) Synonym of vocalic.
2. Uttered or modulated by the voice; expressed in words.
   1. Expressing opinions or feelings freely, loudly, or insistently.
      The protesters were very vocal in their message to the mayor.
   2. 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
   3. Synonym of expressive.
   4. Full of voices.

noun

1. (phonetics) A vocal sound; specifically, a purely vocal element of speech, unmodified except by resonance; a vowel or a diphthong; a tonic element; a tonic.
2. (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
   1. (acting) A musical performance involving singing.
3. (Catholicism) A man in the Roman Catholic Church who has a right to vote in certain elections.