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articulate

[adjective, noun ahr-tik-yuh-lit; verb ahr-tik-yuh-leyt]
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.
  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), ar·tic·u·lat·ed, ar·tic·u·lat·ing.
  1. to utter clearly and distinctly; pronounce with clarity.
  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.
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verb (used without object), ar·tic·u·lat·ed, ar·tic·u·lat·ing.
  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.
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noun
  1. a segmented invertebrate.
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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

4. expressive. See eloquent. 9. enunciate.

Antonyms

4. inarticulate, unintelligible. 9. mumble.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for semi-articulate

Historical Examples

  • White was six feet tall, lean, savage, only semi-articulate.

    The "Genius"

    Theodore Dreiser

  • Yet to the last the listener was frequently baffled by some uncouth, semi-articulate, hardly intelligible sound.

  • Monona, making a silly, semi-articulate observation, was enchanted to have Lulu burst into laughter and squeeze her hand.

British Dictionary definitions for semi-articulate

articulate

adjective (ɑːˈtɪkjʊlɪt)
  1. able to express oneself fluently and coherentlyan articulate lecturer
  2. having the power of speech
  3. distinct, clear, or definite; well-constructedan articulate voice; an articulate document
  4. zoology (of arthropods and higher vertebrates) possessing joints or jointed segments
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verb (ɑːˈtɪkjʊˌleɪt)
  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
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Derived Formsarticulately, adverbarticulateness or articulacy, noun

Word Origin

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 semi-articulate

articulate

v.

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.

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articulate

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
semi-articulate in Medicine

articulate

(är-tĭk′yə-lĭt)
adj.
  1. Capable of speaking distinctly and connectedly.
  2. Consisting of sections united by joints; jointed.
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v.
  1. To speak distinctly and connectedly.
  2. To join or connect together loosely to allow motion between the parts.
  3. To unite by forming a joint or joints.
  4. To form a joint; be jointed.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.