to cast a ballot or make a formal choice in an election or poll
Citizens lined up early to vote in the national election.
You must register before you can vote.
✦ Verb sense recorded from the mid-15th century, originally in assemblies and parliaments.
present participle of vote: choosing between options in an election or decision-making process
Citizens are voting today to elect a new mayor.
The committee is voting on the budget proposal right now.
to choose someone or something by a formal or official vote
The shareholders voted her chairman of the board.
Congress voted the bill into law.
✦ Use in the sense of “elect” dates from the 16th century.
(informal) to state a strong preference or suggestion
I vote we order pizza for dinner.
The team voted him MVP for his outstanding play.
✦ Informal sense developed in American English in the late 19th century.
to give most of your time, energy, or attention to a person, activity, or purpose
Maya plans to devote her weekend to finishing the project.
The charity worker devotes several hours every day to helping the homeless.
✦ from Latin "devotare" meaning "to vow, dedicate"
to set something aside for a special use or purpose
The city council voted to devote the old warehouse to an art center.
The budget committee devoted ten percent of the funds to education.
✦ same Latin root as sense 1, extended to the idea of assigning for a purpose
