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vocal folds
plural noun
: the lower pair of vocal cords each of which when drawn taut, approximated to the contralateral member of the pair, and subjected to a flow of breath produces the voice
Examples of vocal folds in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Surgeons in Kyoto implanted a titanium bridge between his vocal cords (also known as vocal folds) to keep them from pressing together.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
The arytenoids change the position of human vocal folds.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Feb. 2024
His group discovered that the crucial pitch changes are achieved by adjusting tension in the vocal folds of the larynx, and that the corresponding brain signals could be monitored precisely enough for the synthesizer to impart the emotional subtext of patients’ speech.
—Jonathon Keats, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2019
New research published in Current Biology suggests that connective tissue masses are embedded in the vocal folds of the larynges of domestic cats.
—Jorge Garay, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2023
One of the best and most immediate ways to change your voice is by placing it in a specific resonating area of the body – such as the sinuses or throat – or by changing how the vocal folds vibrate.
—Erica Tobolski, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2022
Now it’s generally understood that the source is the voice box: The brain pings electric signals to the vocal folds, prompting them to flutter open and shut like little muscular doors.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2022
Respiratory mucus serves to lubricate the vocal folds, and also filters out particulate debris like pollen, dander and smoke.
—Jack Feerick, Discover Magazine, 10 Nov. 2020
Rocky's abilities prove that primates can manipulate their vocal folds at a fine scale to create distinct sounds, a key component for building up and using a complex vocabulary.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 28 July 2016
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vocal folds.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1866, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near vocal folds
Cite this Entry
“Vocal folds.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vocal%20folds. Accessed 13 Jun. 2024.
Medical Definition
vocal folds
noun pluralLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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