vole
Vole (noun) means a small rodent, similar to a mouse but with a rounder body and shorter tail, common in fields and hedgerows. Example: “A vole scurried into the grass as the dog approached.”
How to use vole
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, round-bodied rodent that lives in fields, similar to but plumper than a mouse.
Easy to mix up with "mole" — voles live above ground in grass, while moles burrow underground.
Word forms
voled past tense, voles plural, voles plural, voles singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ scurried into the grass as the dog approached.
Etymology
From the Orkney dialect phrase "vole mouse," meaning "field mouse," from Old Norse vollr, "field."
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for vole
See all rhymes for vole →Frequently asked questions
What does “vole” mean?
The word “vole” means a small rodent, similar to a mouse but with a rounder body and shorter tail, common in fields and hedgerows. In plain terms, a small, round-bodied rodent that lives in fields, similar to but plumper than a mouse.
How do you pronounce “vole”?
“Vole” is pronounced vohl (/voʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “vole” in a sentence?
Here is “vole” used in a sentence: “A vole scurried into the grass as the dog approached.”
What part of speech is “vole”?
“Vole” is a noun.
Where does the word “vole” come from?
The word “vole” comes from Old Norse. From the Orkney dialect phrase "vole mouse," meaning "field mouse," from Old Norse vollr, "field.".
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include vole: