voice

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a means or agency by which something is expressed or communicated

   the voice of the law

2. 2
   noun

   the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

   A shrill voice sounded behind us

3. 3
   noun

   the ability to speak

   I lost my voice.

4. 4
   noun

   the sound made by the vibration of vocal folds modified by the resonance of the vocal tract

   Their voice echoed through the building.

5. 5
   noun

   something suggestive of speech in being a medium of expression

   the wee small voice of conscience

6. 6
   noun

   a sound suggestive of a vocal utterance

   the noisy voice of the waterfall

7. 7
   noun

   metonymy for a singer

   There is no sound better than a trained voice.

8. 8
   verb

   allow something to be expressed

   I've already voiced my concern.

Etymology

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.