Voluble

Voluble
Voluble Vol"u*ble, a. [L. volubilis, fr. volvere, volutum, to roll, to turn round; akin to Gr. ? to infold, to inwrap, ? to roll, G. welle a wave: cf. F. voluble. Cf. F. {Well} of water, {Convolvulus}, {Devolve}, {Involve}, {Revolt}, {Vault} an arch, {Volume}, {Volute}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Easily rolling or turning; easily set in motion; apt to roll; rotating; as, voluble particles of matter. [1913 Webster]

2. Moving with ease and smoothness in uttering words; of rapid speech; nimble in speaking; glib; as, a flippant, voluble, tongue. [1913 Webster]

[Cassio,] a knave very voluble. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Note: Voluble was used formerly to indicate readiness of speech merely, without any derogatory suggestion. ``A grave and voluble eloquence.'' --Bp. Hacket. [1913 Webster]

3. Changeable; unstable; fickle. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

4. (Bot.) Having the power or habit of turning or twining; as, the voluble stem of hop plants. [1913 Webster]

{Voluble stem} (Bot.), a stem that climbs by winding, or twining, round another body. [1913 Webster] -- {Vol"u*ble*ness}, n. -- {Vol"u*bly}, adv. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • voluble — (adj.) 1570s, liable to constant change, from Fr. voluble, from L. volubilis that turns around, rolling, flowing, fluent (of speech), from volvere to turn around, roll (see VULVA (Cf. vulva)). Meaning fluent, talkative first recorded 1580s …   Etymology dictionary

  • voluble — I adjective copious, declamatory, discursive, eloquent, effusive, expansive, fluent, garrulous, glib, long winded, loquacious, multiloquent, profuse, rambling, ready tongued, rhetorical, talkative, verbose, wordy II index loquacious Burton s… …   Law dictionary

  • voluble — 1 fluent, glib, eloquent, *vocal, articulate Analogous words: copious, abundant, *plentiful: *easy, facile, effortless, smooth Antonyms: stuttering, stammering 2 glib, garrulous, loquacious, *talkative Antonyms …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • voluble — [adj] talkative articulate, bigmouthed*, chattering, chatty*, fluent, full of hot air*, gabby, garrulous, long winded*, loquacious, mouthy*, multiloquent, prolix, rambling, running on*, slick*, smooth*, talky, verbal, windy*, wordy; concept 267 …   New thesaurus

  • voluble — (Del lat. volubĭlis). 1. adj. Que fácilmente se puede volver alrededor. 2. De carácter inconstante. 3. Bot. Dicho de un tallo: Que crece formando espiras alrededor de los objetos …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • voluble — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently. DERIVATIVES volubility noun volubly adverb. ORIGIN originally in senses «rotating about an axis» and «tending to change»: from Latin volvere to roll …   English terms dictionary

  • voluble — [väl′yə bəl] adj. [Fr < L volubilis, easily turned about < volutus, pp. of volvere, to roll, turn about: see WALK] 1. characterized by a great flow of words; talking much and easily; talkative, glib, etc. 2. Rare rolling easily on an axis;… …   English World dictionary

  • voluble — (Del lat. volubilis.) ► adjetivo 1 Que tiene un carácter inconstante: ■ es una persona voluble en todos sus actos; tiene un carácter muy voluble y le convencen de cualquier cosa. SINÓNIMO inestable variable ANTÓNIMO constante …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • voluble — [[t]vɒ̱ljʊb(ə)l[/t]] ADJ GRADED If you say that someone is voluble, you mean that they talk a lot with great energy and enthusiasm. [FORMAL] She was voluble with excitement... Bert is a voluble, gregarious man. Derived words: volubly… …   English dictionary

  • voluble — adjective formal 1 talking a lot: a voluble spokesman 2 a voluble speech, explanation etc uses a lot of words and is spoken quickly: She broke into voluble and perfect Italian. volubly adverb volubility, noun (U) …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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