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true vocal cord

true vocal cord

1 5.6
A thin piece of tissue in the throat that vibrates to make the voice
  • noun
  • /tru ˈvoʊkəl kɔrd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cuerda vocal verdadera
  • When air passes through the true vocal cord, it vibrates to create different sounds.

Examples

  • Here on the true vocal cord.

  • The surgeon examined the true vocal cord to assess the patient's ability to speak clearly.

  • People with allergies may experience swelling of the true vocal cord, affecting their voice.

Synonyms

vocal cord
vstrue vocal cord
  • Specialized
35 3.5

A fold in the throat that vibrates to make your voice

is used to stress their role as the primary structures producing voice
vocal fold
vstrue vocal cord
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A thin piece of tissue in the throat that vibrates to make sound

is described simply as two tissue bands rather than paired groups
true vocal fold
vstrue vocal cord
  • Specialized
7.0

Thin bands of tissue in the voice box that vibrate to make voice when air passes between them

is the general term not limited to lower or ligamentous detail
plica vocalis
vstrue vocal cord
  • Specialized
9.9

A fold of soft tissue in the voice box that makes sound when air passes through

is the common English name used more often in general contexts
vocal band
vstrue vocal cord
  • Specialized
4.8

Thin folds of tissue in the throat that make sound when you speak

is focused on their function as main voice producing structures not naming
inferior vocal fold
vstrue vocal cord
  • Specialized
9.0

Lower band of tissue in the throat that makes sound when air passes between the two bands

is the general term not limited to the pair that forms the glottis
inferior vocal cord
vstrue vocal cord
  • Specialized
8.4

A lower fold of tissue in the throat that makes sound when air passes between the two

is the broader name for these tissues without stressing their specific pairing

Antonyms

false vocal cord
  • Specialized
7.8

Upper throat folds that protect the airway but do not make sound

Surface Forms

Morphology

true + vocal + cord

The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'vocal' relates to voice and 'cord' denotes a band or rope-like structure, while 'true' marks the genuine/actual one. Although the distinction (true vs false vocal cords) is anatomical and somewhat technical, the basic idea—that these are the real voice-producing bands—is directly derivable from the constituents and should be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the component words.

Etymology

The term true vocal cord comes from the simple image of two bands called vocal cords that actually vibrate to make 'sound'. They are called true to show they are the real voice makers, unlike nearby 'false vocal cords', so the name points to the part that makes your 'voice'.