Short for 'vocational' in educational contexts, or 'volatile organic compound' in chemistry and environmental science.
From Latin 'vocare' meaning 'to call,' which gave rise to both 'vocational' (calling/profession) and 'vocal.' The chemistry meaning emerged in the 20th century as environmental science developed specialized terminology.
The same three letters connect medieval concepts of divine calling to modern environmental regulations. VOCs in your house paint share linguistic roots with the idea of having a 'vocation' - both trace back to the Latin word for 'calling.'
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