Definition

Noun: - The capacity or strength of one's lungs to produce a loud voice or sustained sound: This refers specifically to the physical capability to project one's voice powerfully without amplification, often used in contexts like singing, shouting, or public speaking.

Usage

This noun is typically used to describe a person's vocal strength and endurance. It is often used in a complimentary or descriptive way. - The opera singer's incredible lung-power allowed her to fill the entire concert hall without a microphone. - You need good lung-power to be an effective drill sergeant. - The politician was known more for his lung-power than for the substance of his speeches.

Advanced Usage

• "To have the lung-power of...": Used to compare someone's vocal strength to another person or thing known for being loud.
  • The newborn baby had the lung-power of a foghorn.
• "To test one's lung-power": Refers to attempting to speak or shout as loudly as possible.
  • He tested his lung-power by cheering for his team from the highest bleacher.

Variants and Related Words

• Lung capacity (n): A more clinical or physiological term for the volume of air the lungs can hold, not necessarily tied to vocal projection.
• Vocal projection (n): The technique of using one's voice to be heard clearly at a distance, which relies on lung-power.
• Stentorian (adj): Describing a very loud and powerful voice (e.g., a voice).

Synonyms

• Vocal strength
• Vocal power
• Pipes (informal, especially for singing)

Related Phrases

• To belt out a song: To sing with great force and lung-power.
  • She can belt out a blues number like a professional.
• To shout at the top of one's lungs: To shout as loudly as one possibly can.
  • He was shouting at the top of his lungs to get their attention.

Noun

1. the ability to speak loudly