articulate

[adjective, noun ahr-tik-yuh-lit; verb ahr-tik-yuh-leyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR articulate ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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.

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), ar·tic·u·lat·ed, ar·tic·u·lat·ing.

to utter clearly and distinctly; pronounce with clarity.

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), ar·tic·u·lat·ed, ar·tic·u·lat·ing.

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

a segmented invertebrate.

Origin of articulate

First recorded in 1545–55, articulate is from the Latin word articulātus, past participle of articulāre to divide into distinct parts. See article, -ate¹

Related formsar·tic·u·la·ble

[ahr-tik-yuh-luh-buhl] /ɑrˈtɪk yə lə bəl/, adjectivear·tic·u·late·ly, adverbar·tic·u·late·ness, ar·tic·u·la·cy

[ahr-tik-yuh-luh-see] /ɑrˈtɪk yə lə si/, nounar·tic·u·la·tive

[ahr-tik-yuh-ley-tiv, -luh-tiv] /ɑrˈtɪk yəˌleɪ tɪv, -lə tɪv/, adjectivemis·ar·tic·u·late, verb, mis·ar·tic·u·lat·ed, mis·ar·tic·u·lat·ing.mul·ti·ar·tic·u·late, adjectivenon·ar·tic·u·late, adjectivenon·ar·tic·u·late·ly, adverbnon·ar·tic·u·late·ness, nounnon·ar·tic·u·la·tive, adjectiveo·ver·ar·tic·u·late, adjectiveo·ver·ar·tic·u·late, verb, o·ver·ar·tic·u·lat·ed, o·ver·ar·tic·u·lat·ing.pre·ar·tic·u·late, adjectivepseu·do·ar·tic·u·late, adjectivepseu·do·ar·tic·u·late·ly, adverbre·ar·tic·u·late, verb, re·ar·tic·u·lat·ed, re·ar·tic·u·lat·ing.sem·i·ar·tic·u·late, adjectivesem·i·ar·tic·u·late·ly, adverbsub·ar·tic·u·late, adjectivesub·ar·tic·u·late·ly, adverbsub·ar·tic·u·late·ness, nounsub·ar·tic·u·la·tive, adjectiveun·ar·tic·u·late, adjectiveun·ar·tic·u·late·ly, adverbun·ar·tic·u·la·tive, adjective

Synonyms for articulate

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR articulate ON THESAURUS.COM

4. expressive. See eloquent. 9. enunciate.

Antonyms for articulate

4. inarticulate, unintelligible. 9. mumble.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for articulate

fluent, expressive, coherent, eloquent, well-spoken, utter, express, enunciate, clear, vocalize, pronounce, state, verbalize, say, mouth, voice, talk, speak, concatenate, join

Examples from the Web for articulate

Contemporary Examples of articulate

I am not the most financially literate person (I would be hard-pressed to articulate the term “junk bond”).
Can Self-Help Books Really Make a New You?
Lizzie Crocker
December 29, 2014
His correspondence, much of which survives, is that of an incisive and articulate observer.
Stonewall Jackson, VMI’s Most Embattled Professor
S. C. Gwynne
November 29, 2014
I was looking for characters, originals, people who could articulate what they were doing in colorful ways.
The Real-Life Raiders of the Lost Ark
Alex Belth
November 14, 2014
My debate partner in Virginia was articulate, educated, likable, and familiar with a vast range of relevant scientific research.
My Debate With an ‘Intelligent Design’ Theorist
Karl W. Giberson
April 21, 2014
Flooded by questions without words to articulate them, I connected images with explanations.
‘Tracing the Blue Light’: Read Chapter 1 of Eileen Cronin’s ‘Mermaid’
Eileen Cronin
April 8, 2014

Historical Examples of articulate

I have grown tired of the articulate utterances of men and things.
De Profundis
Oscar Wilde
My soul was so completely touched, that I could not articulate.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
By and by, the rushing noise began to sound like articulate language.
Tanglewood Tales
Nathaniel Hawthorne
When finally he was able to articulate it was in broken gasps.
The Fortune Hunter
Louis Joseph Vance
His voice was rather feeble, but clear, articulate, and musical.
Heather and Snow
George MacDonald

British Dictionary definitions for articulate

articulate

adjective (ɑːˈtɪkjʊlɪt)

able to express oneself fluently and coherentlyan articulate lecturer

having the power of speech

distinct, clear, or definite; well-constructedan articulate voice; an articulate document

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

verb (ɑːˈtɪkjʊˌleɪt)

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

Derived Formsarticulately, adverbarticulateness or articulacy, noun

Word Origin for articulate

C16: from Latin articulāre to divide into joints; see article

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for articulate

1590s, "to divide speech into distinct parts" (earlier "to formally bring charges against," 1550s), from Latin articulatus, past participle of articulare "to separate into joints," also "to utter distinctly," from articulus "joint" (see article). Generalized sense of "express in words" is from 1690s. Literal sense, "to join, to attach by joints," is attested from 1610s. Earlier senses, "to set forth in articles," "to bring a charge against" (1560s) now are obsolete or nearly so. Related: Articulated; articulating.

adj.

1580s in the speech sense (1570s as "formulated in articles"), from Latin articulatus (see articulate (v.)). Literal meaning "composed of segments united by joints" is from c.1600; the general sense of "speaking accurately" is short for articulate-speaking (1829). Related: Articulately.

articulate in Medicine

articulate

[är-tĭk′yə-lĭt]

adj.

Capable of speaking distinctly and connectedly.

Consisting of sections united by joints; jointed.

v.

To speak distinctly and connectedly.

To join or connect together loosely to allow motion between the parts.

To unite by forming a joint or joints.

To form a joint; be jointed.