vocal cords

plural noun

: either of two pairs of folds of mucous membranes that project into the cavity of the larynx and have free edges extending dorsoventrally toward the middle line

Examples of vocal cords in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Vitale announced in summer 2023 that cancer had spread to his vocal cords, and later to his lymph nodes, leaving him with battles against four types of cancer in a four-year span. Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 19 Jan. 2025 Vitale then underwent surgery on his vocal cords in February 2022 after stopping his broadcasting duties at the start of the year due to his ongoing battle with Dysplasia on his vocal cords. Jenna West and Andrew Marchand, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025 After waking up in the hospital with tubes in her throat to help her breathe, Adams had to learn how to speak again because of the strain on her vocal cords. Glenn E. Rice, Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 2025 However, drinking more than a cup of tea daily was associated with a higher chance of getting laryngeal cancer — which forms in the larynx, the part of the throat that controls the vocal cords, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 25 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vocal cords 

Word History

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vocal cords was in 1757

Dictionary Entries Near vocal cords

Cite this Entry

“Vocal cords.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vocal%20cords. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

vocal cords

plural noun
: either of two pairs of elastic folds of tissue in the larynx of which the lower pair produce the voice when air exhaled from the lungs causes them to vibrate

More from Merriam-Webster on vocal cords

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