Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

vo|ca|tion /voʊke I ʃ ^ə n/ (vocations )

1 N‑VAR If you have a vocation , you have a strong feeling that you are especially suited to do a particular job or to fulfil a particular role in life, especially one which involves helping other people. □  It could well be that he has a real vocation. □  Diana was convinced of her vocation to provide support for her pupils.

2 N‑VAR [oft poss N ] If you refer to your job or profession as your vocation , you feel that you are particularly suited to it. □  Her vocation is her work as an actress.

vo|ca|tion|al /voʊke I ʃən ^ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Vocational training and skills are the training and skills needed for a particular job or profession. □  …a course designed to provide vocational training in engineering. ●  vo|ca|tion|al|ly ADV [ADV -ed/adj] □  …a variety of vocationally oriented courses.

voca|tive /vɒ kət I v/ (vocatives ) N‑COUNT A vocative is a word such as 'darling' or 'madam' which is used to address someone or attract their attention. [TECHNICAL ]

vo|cif|er|ous /vəs I fərəs, [AM ] voʊs-/ ADJ If you describe someone as vociferous , you mean that they speak with great energy and determination, because they want their views to be heard. □  He was a vociferous opponent of Conservatism. ●  vo|cif|er|ous|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □  He vociferously opposed the state of emergency imposed by the government.

vod|ka /vɒ dkə/ (vodkas ) N‑VAR Vodka is a strong, clear, alcoholic drink.

vogue /voʊ g/

1 N‑SING If there is a vogue for something, it is very popular and fashionable. □ [+ for ] Despite the vogue for so-called health teas, there is no evidence that they are any healthier.

2 PHRASE If something is in vogue , is very popular and fashionable. If it comes into vogue , it becomes very popular and fashionable. □  Pale colours are much more in vogue than autumnal bronzes and coppers. □  …the hippie-ethnic look which came into vogue in the late 60s.

voice ◆◆◇ /vɔ I s/ (voices , voicing , voiced )

1 N‑COUNT [oft poss N , adj N ] When someone speaks or sings, you hear their voice . □  Miriam's voice was strangely calm. □  'The police are here,' she said in a low voice. □  There was a sound of loud voices from the kitchen.

2 N‑COUNT Someone's voice is their opinion on a particular topic and what they say about it. □ [+ of ] What does one do when a government simply refuses to listen to the voice of the opposition?

3 N‑SING If you have a voice in something, you have the right to express an opinion on it. □ [+ in ] The people themselves must be an important voice in the debate.

4 VERB If you voice something such as an opinion or an emotion, you say what you think or feel. □ [V n] Some scientists have voiced concern that the disease could be passed on to humans. □ [V -ed] This is a criticism frequently voiced by opponents.

5 N‑SING In grammar, if a verb is in the active voice , the person who performs the action is the subject of the verb. If a verb is in the passive voice , the thing or person affected by the action is the subject of the verb.

6 PHRASE If you give voice to an opinion, a need, or a desire, you express it aloud. □  …a community radio run by the Catholic Church which gave voice to the protests of the slum-dwellers.

7 PHRASE If someone tells you to keep your voice down , they are asking you to speak more quietly. □  Keep your voice down, for goodness sake.

8 PHRASE If you lose your voice , you cannot speak for a while because of an illness. □  I had to be careful not to get a sore throat and lose my voice.