Vol"u*ble (?), a. [L. volubilis, fr. volvere, volutum, to roll, to turn round; akin to Gr. &?; to infold, to
inwrap, &?; to roll, G. welle a wave: cf. F.
voluble. Cf. F. Well of water, Convolvulus,
Devolve, Involve, Revolt,
Vault an arch, Volume, Volute.]
1. Easily rolling or turning; easily set in
motion; apt to roll; rotating; as, voluble particles of matter.
2. Moving with ease and
smoothness in uttering
words; of rapid speech; nimble in speaking; glib; as, a flippant, voluble,
tongue.
[Cassio,] a knave very
voluble.
Shak.
&fist; Voluble was used formerly to indicate readiness of speech merely, without any derogatory suggestion.
"A grave and
voluble eloquence." Bp. Hacket.
3. Changeable; unstable; fickle.
[Obs.]
4. (Bot.) Having the power or habit of turning or twining; as, the voluble stem of hop
plants.
Voluble stem (Bot.), a stem that
climbs by winding, or twining, round another body.
-- Vol"u*ble*ness, n. --
Vol"u*bly, adv.
Hear it pronounced