articulate
Americanadjective
-
uttered clearly in distinct syllables.
-
capable of speech; not speechless.
-
using language easily and fluently; having facility with words.
an articulate speaker.
-
expressed, formulated, or presented with clarity and effectiveness.
an articulate thought.
- Synonyms:
- expressive
- Antonyms:
- unintelligible, inarticulate
-
made clear, distinct, and precise in relation to other parts.
an articulate form; an articulate shape; an articulate area.
-
(of ideas, form, etc.) having a meaningful relation to other parts.
an articulate image.
-
having parts or distinct areas organized into a coherent or meaningful whole; unified.
an articulate system of philosophy.
-
Zoology. having joints or articulations; composed of segments.
verb (used with object)
-
to utter clearly and distinctly; pronounce with clarity.
- Synonyms:
- enunciate
- Antonyms:
- mumble
-
Phonetics. to make the movements and adjustments of the speech organs necessary to utter (a speech sound).
-
to give clarity or distinction to.
to articulate a shape; to articulate an idea.
-
Dentistry. to position or reposition (teeth); subject to articulation.
-
to unite by a joint or joints.
-
to reveal or make distinct.
an injection to articulate arteries so that obstructions can be observed by x-ray.
verb (used without object)
-
to pronounce clearly each of a succession of speech sounds, syllables, or words; enunciate.
to articulate with excessive precision.
-
Phonetics. to articulate a speech sound.
-
Anatomy, Zoology. to form a joint.
-
Obsolete. to make terms of agreement.
noun
adjective
-
able to express oneself fluently and coherently
an articulate lecturer
-
having the power of speech
-
distinct, clear, or definite; well-constructed
an articulate voice
an articulate document
-
zoology (of arthropods and higher vertebrates) possessing joints or jointed segments
verb
-
to speak or enunciate (words, syllables, etc) clearly and distinctly
-
(tr) to express coherently in words
-
(intr) zoology to be jointed or form a joint
-
(tr) to separate into jointed segments
Related Words
See eloquent.
Other Word Forms
- articulable adjective
- articulacy noun
- articulately adverb
- articulateness noun
- articulative adjective
- misarticulate verb
- multiarticulate adjective
- nonarticulate adjective
- nonarticulately adverb
- nonarticulateness noun
- nonarticulative adjective
- overarticulate adjective
- prearticulate adjective
- pseudoarticulate adjective
- pseudoarticulately adverb
- rearticulate verb
- semiarticulate adjective
- semiarticulately adverb
- subarticulate adjective
- subarticulately adverb
- subarticulateness noun
- subarticulative adjective
- unarticulate adjective
- unarticulately adverb
- unarticulative adjective
Etymology
Origin of articulate
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin articulātus, past participle of articulāre “to divide into distinct parts”; article, -ate 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What he has felt but doesn’t know how to articulate.
From Los Angeles Times
Heartbeat also cast the show with singers experienced in musical theater, counting on their ability to articulate the English text clearly.
A gifted orator, Jackson articulated the frustrations of those who felt like second-class citizens in the world's most prosperous democracy.
From BBC
But they cannot, for the life of them, articulate how they feel.
From Salon
He didn't articulate it, but this has been a savagely bruising week for him.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
