vocal Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun music intended to be performed by one or more singers, usually with instrumental accompaniment
vocal music.
noun a short musical composition with words
song.
- a successful musical must have at least three good songs
adjective relating to or designed for or using the singing voice
- vocal technique
- the vocal repertoire
- organized a vocal group to sing his compositions
adjective having or using the power to produce speech or sound
- vocal organs
- all vocal beings hymned their praise
adjective satellite given to expressing yourself freely or insistently
outspoken.
- outspoken in their opposition to segregation
- a vocal assembly
adjective satellite full of the sound of voices
- a playground vocal with the shouts and laughter of children

L. vocalis, fr. vox, vocis, voice: cf. F. vocal. See Voice, and cf. Vowel.

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. Milton.
Uttered or modulated by the voice; oral; as, vocal melody; vocal prayer. "Vocal worship." Milton.
Of or pertaining to a vowel or voice sound; also, poken with tone, intonation, and resonance; sonant; sonorous; -- said of certain articulate sounds.
(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.

Cf. F. vocal, LL. vocalis.

(Phon.) 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.
(R. C. Ch.) A man who has a right to vote in certain elections.