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

And researchers identified a vole (Microtus guentheri) native to Asia Minor as a newfound reservoir for leishmaniasis, which causes skin ulcers. —IEEE Spectrum, 24 Sep. 2015

Shards of caribou bones and antlers lie on the tundra as ghostly business cards of a bygone migration, greened with mold, and minutely chiseled and mined for calcium by tiny vole teeth. —Jon Waterman, Outside Online, 22 Oct. 2024

Like, stink bugs and cockroaches, scorpions, ticks, bees, beetles and borers and aphids, snails and mice and voles. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2024

If small critters like voles and mice are problematic in your garden, take steps to protect tender hosta stems and crowns, which can become a cold-weather buffet for these animals. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2024

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