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.
⇒ 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.
© Webster 1913. | 
