VOLE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

vole

[ vohl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of several small mouselike or ratlike rodents of the genus Microtus and related genera, having short limbs and a short tail.

vole

[ vohl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Cards. the winning by one player of all the tricks of a deal.

vole

/ ��əʊ�� /

noun

any of numerous small rodents of the genus Microtus and related genera, mostly of Eurasia and North America and having a stocky body, short tail, and inconspicuous ears: family Cricetidae See also water vole

vole

/ ��əʊ�� /

noun

(in some card games, such as écarté) the taking of all the tricks in a deal, thus scoring extra points

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of vole¹

1795–1805; short for volemouse field mouse, perhaps < Norwegian *vollmus, equivalent to voll field ( wold ¹ ) + mus mouse

Origin of vole²

1670–80; < French, derivative of voler to fly < Latin ��Ǳ��

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of vole¹

C19: short for volemouse, from Old Norse vollr field + mus mouse ; related to Icelandic vollarmus

Origin of vole²

C17: from French, from voler to fly, from Latin ��Ǳ��

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Idioms and Phrases

go the vole,
1. to venture everything on the chance of great rewards.
2. to try one after another, as a variety of occupations:
  He went the vole and finally settled on watchmaking.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

This rare chalk stream – one of around 200 worldwide – which supports important wildlife like water voles, saw more than 3,300 hours of spills in 2024.

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Water voles now roam the network of channels, streams, and ponds the beavers use to navigate the flood plain.

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A UC Davis study found a population of Bay Area ground squirrels hunting and eating voles, suggesting the species may be more flexible in its diet than previously thought.

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One in six species - such as water voles and curlews - are currently at risk of vanishing from Wales, which has seen a 20% decrease on average in its wildlife over the last 30 years.

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Water voles - a species that has declined by 90% in the past 30 years - have made their home in a park in York, it has been confirmed.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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