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vole

1

[ vohl ]

noun

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


vole

2

[ vohl ]

noun

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

vole

1

/ əʊ /

noun

  1. 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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

vole

2

/ əʊ /

noun

  1. (in some card games, such as écarté) the taking of all the tricks in a deal, thus scoring extra points
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word 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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Word 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

Idioms
  1. 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.

Aside from curlew, they pose a threat to a number of native species including the Orkney vole, short-eared owl and hen harrier.

From

They include endangered birds like hen harriers and water voles, which are now the UK's fastest declining mammal.

From

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.

From

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

From

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.

From

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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