vole

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈvōl 

: any of various small rodents (Microtus and related genera) that typically have a stout body, rather blunt nose, and short ears, inhabit both moist meadows and dry uplands and do much damage to crops, and are closely related to muskrats and lemmings

vole

2 of 2

noun (2)

: grand slam sense 3

Examples of vole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

An example of this evolution was discovered by researchers at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois who compared the skulls of chipmunks and voles from the Chicagoland area that were collected over the past 125 years. —Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025

Or line raised beds with old window screens to keep voles from grazing on the roots of plants. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2025

Badgers make a living by eating smaller animals that also live underground, such as Pocket Gophers, Ground Squirrels, Prairie Dogs, mice and voles. —Stan Tekiela, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024

However, voles may be spotted occasionally, while moles, which spend most of their lives underground, are seldom seen. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 8 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

earlier vole-mouse, from vole- (of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse vǫllr field) + mouse; akin to Old English weald forest — more at wold

Noun (2)

French, probably from voler to fly — more at volley entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1805, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1679, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing vole

• meadow vole

Kids Definition

vole

noun

ˈvōl

: any of various small rodents that are closely related to the lemmings and muskrats but in general look like fat mice or rats and that are sometimes harmful to crops

Medical Definition

vole

noun

ˈvōl 

: any of various small rodents (family Cricetidae and especially genus Microtus) that typically have a stout body, rather blunt nose, and short ears, that inhabit both moist meadows and dry uplands and do much damage to crops, and that are closely related to muskrats and lemmings but in general resemble stocky mice or rats