articulate

American  

[ahr-tik-yuh-lit, ahr-tik-yuh-leyt] / ɑrˈtɪk yə lɪt, ɑrˈtɪk yəˌleɪt /

adjective

1. uttered clearly in distinct syllables.

2. capable of speech; not speechless.

3. using language easily and fluently; having facility with words.

   an articulate speaker.

4. expressed, formulated, or presented with clarity and effectiveness.

   an articulate thought.

   Synonyms:

   expressive

   Antonyms:

   unintelligible, inarticulate

5. made clear, distinct, and precise in relation to other parts.

   an articulate form; an articulate shape; an articulate area.

6. (of ideas, form, etc.) having a meaningful relation to other parts.

   an articulate image.

7. having parts or distinct areas organized into a coherent or meaningful whole; unified.

   an articulate system of philosophy.

8. Zoology. having joints or articulations; composed of segments.

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verb (used with object)

articulated, articulating

1. to utter clearly and distinctly; pronounce with clarity.

   Synonyms:

   enunciate

   Antonyms:

   mumble

2. Phonetics. to make the movements and adjustments of the speech organs necessary to utter (a speech sound).

3. to give clarity or distinction to.

   to articulate a shape; to articulate an idea.

4. Dentistry. to position or reposition (teeth); subject to articulation.

5. to unite by a joint or joints.

6. to reveal or make distinct.

   an injection to articulate arteries so that obstructions can be observed by x-ray.

verb (used without object)

articulated, articulating

1. to pronounce clearly each of a succession of speech sounds, syllables, or words; enunciate.

   to articulate with excessive precision.

2. Phonetics. to articulate a speech sound.

3. Anatomy, Zoology. to form a joint.

4. Obsolete. to make terms of agreement.

noun

1. a segmented invertebrate.

articulate British  

adjective

1. able to express oneself fluently and coherently

   an articulate lecturer

2. having the power of speech

3. distinct, clear, or definite; well-constructed

   an articulate voice

   an articulate document

4. zoology (of arthropods and higher vertebrates) possessing joints or jointed segments

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verb

1. to speak or enunciate (words, syllables, etc) clearly and distinctly

2. (tr) to express coherently in words

3. (intr) zoology to be jointed or form a joint

4. (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

“I cannot hear your challenge, no matter how astute, articulate, and correct it is, and I will not answer. Your dialogue is not with me, but the void.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Finance chiefs say they are playing a leading role in their company’s AI transformation efforts, evaluating performance, pushing for productivity gains and clearly articulating the value to reluctant employees.

From The Wall Street Journal

On a separate farewell podcast for paid subscribers, Maron and his longtime producer Brendan McDonald explained that the relentless workload was tiring and articulated a niggling feeling that the show belonged to a different era.

From The Wall Street Journal

President Jimmy Carter used his 1980 State of the Union address to articulate a proactive new American position toward the region, centered on the strait.

From The Wall Street Journal

The administration hasn’t publicly articulated a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil typically flows.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• coherent
• eloquent
• expressive
• fluent
• well-spoken