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Definition of voice noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

voice

noun
 
/vɔɪs/
 
/vɔɪs/
Idioms
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    sound from mouth

  1. [countable, uncountable] the sound or sounds produced through the mouth by a person speaking or singing
    • I could hear voices in the next room.
    • He recognized Sarah's voice.
    • in a… voice to speak in a deep/soft/loud voice
    • ‘I promise,’ she said in a small voice (= a quiet, shy voice).
    • in somebody's voice There was a note of concern in his voice.
    • He never raised his voice (= spoke loudly in an angry way) to the children.
    • to lower your voice (= to speak more quietly)
    • Keep your voice down (= speak quietly).
    • Don't take that tone of voice with me!
    • The men turned around at the sound of my voice.
    • Her voice shook with emotion.
    • ‘There you are,’ said a voice behind me.
    • When did his voice break (= become deep like a man's)?
    • Her voice sounded familiar.
    • He was suffering from flu and had lost his voice (= could not speak).
    • She has a good singing voice.
    • She was in good voice (= singing well) at the concert tonight.
    Extra Examples
    • ‘Do you have to speak to me in that tone of voice?’ she asked sadly.
    • ‘Get out!’ she shouted in a shrill voice.
    • ‘So he won't come…’ her voice trailed off in disappointment.
    • ‘Who is it?’ a female voice called out.
    • He managed to keep his voice steady despite his feelings of panic.
    • He swallowed nervously as he tried to find his voice.
    • Her voice echoed through the silent house.
    • Her voice shook with fear.
    • Her voice was filled with emotion.
    • His deep voice cut through the silence.
    • His voice broke when he was 14.
    • His voice broke with emotion.
    • His voice rose in angry protest.
    • His voice suddenly thickened with emotion.
    • I could tell from his slurred voice that he'd been drinking.
    • Please keep your voice down so as not to wake the children.
    • Please lower your voice!
    • She dropped her voice to a whisper.
    • She has a beautiful singing voice.
    • She put on a silly voice as she imitated her boss.
    • She was dimly aware of voices shouting.
    • She was in good voice (= singing well) at the concert tonight.
    • She's a teacher who never has to raise her voice to discipline the children.
    • She's lost her voice and won't be able to sing tonight.
    • The flat, unemotional voice droned on.
    • The home fans were in good voice before the match.
    • The patient said that he heard voices in his head telling him what to do.
    • There was fury in his voice as he answered her.
    • They could hear a loud babble of voices coming from the crowded bar.
    • Try to project your voice so that the people at the back of the room can hear you.
    • to speak in a husky voice
    Topics Musica2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • beautiful
    • fine
    • good
    verb + voice
    • hear
    • raise
    • drop
    voice + verb
    • go up
    • rise
    • die away
    voice + noun
    • coach
    • teacher
    • lessons
    preposition
    • in a/​your voice
    phrases
    • at the top of your voice
    • a babble of voices
    • a hum of voices
    See full entry
  2. -voiced

  3. (in adjectives) having a voice of the type mentioned
    • low-voiced
    • squeaky-voiced
  4. opinion

  5. [singular] voice (in something) the right to express your opinion and influence decisions
    • Employees should have a voice in the decision-making process.
    • Refugees have been unable to find a voice in politics.
    Topics Opinion and argumentc1
  6. [countable] a particular attitude, opinion or feeling that is expressed; a feeling or an opinion that you become aware of inside yourself
    • He pledged that his party would listen to the voice of the people.
    • Very few dissenting voices were heard on the right of the party.
    • the voice of reason/sanity/conscience
    • ‘Coward!’ a tiny inner voice insisted.
    Extra Examples
    • An inner voice told him that what he had done was wrong.
    • Dissenting voices at the newspaper are very rare.
    • Many senior politicians have lent their voices to the campaign.
    • Powerful voices in the Senate are determined to bring down the president.
    • a lone voice of dissent
    • to listen to the voice of conscience
    • a writer with a highly distinctive voice
    Topics Opinion and argumentc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • critical
    • dissenting
    • lone
    verb + voice
    • find
    • add
    • lend
    preposition
    • voice of
    phrases
    • make your voice heard
    • speak with one voice
    See full entry
  7. an organization that expresses the opinion of a particular section of society
    • The Royal Society is the voice of the British science establishment.
  8. grammar

  9. [singular] the active/passive voice the form of a verb that shows whether the subject of a sentence performs the action (the active voice) or is affected by it (the passive voice)
    • Can you turn this sentence into the passive voice?
    Topics Languageb2
  10. phonetics

  11. [uncountable] sound produced by movement of the vocal cords used in the pronunciation of vowels and some consonants see also voiced, voicelessTopics Languagec1
  12. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French vois, from Latin vox, voc-.
Idioms
at the top of your voice
  1. as loudly as possible
    • She was screaming at the top of her voice.
    • I was shouting at the top of my voice but she couldn't hear me.
find your voice/tongue
  1. to be able to speak or express your opinionTopics Opinion and argumentc2
give voice to something
  1. to express your feelings, worries, etc.
    • Many workers at the meeting gave voice to their fears about job security.
    Topics Opinion and argumentc2
like, etc. the sound of your own voice
  1. (disapproving) to like talking a lot or too much, usually without wanting to listen to other people
    • She’s much too fond of the sound of her own voice.
make your voice heard
  1. to express your feelings, opinions, etc. in a way that makes people notice and consider them
    • The programme gives ordinary viewers a chance to make their voices heard.
    • a society in which individuals are able to make their voices heard
    Topics Opinion and argumentc2
a/the still small voice
  1. (literary) the voice of God or your conscience, that tells you to do what is morally right
with one voice
  1. as a group; with everyone agreeing
    • The various opposition parties speak with one voice on this issue.
    • The teachers speak with one voice when they demand an end to the cuts.
    Topics Opinion and argumentc2
See voice in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee voice in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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