—adj.
1 of or concerned with or uttered by the voice (a vocal communication).
2 expressing one's feelings freely in speech (was very vocal about his rights).
3 Phonet. voiced.
4 poet. (of trees, water, etc.) endowed with a voice or a similar faculty.
5 (of music) written for or produced by the voice with or without accompaniment (cf. INSTRUMENTAL).
—n.
1 (in sing. or pl.) the sung part of a musical composition.
2 a musical performance with singing.
Phrases and idioms:
vocal cords folds of the lining membrane of the larynx near the opening of the glottis, with edges vibrating in the air-stream to produce the voice. vocal score a musical score showing the voice parts in full.
Derivatives:
vocality n. vocally adv.
Etymology: ME f. L vocalis (as VOICE)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.