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.

   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.

verb (used with object)

, ar·tic·u·lat·ed, ar·tic·u·lat·ing.

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)

, 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.

noun

1. a segmented invertebrate.

articulate

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

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

Derived Forms

• arˈticulately, adverb
• arˈticulateness, noun

Other Words From

• ar·tic·u·la·ble [ahr-, tik, -y, uh, -l, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• ar·ticu·late·ly adverb
• ar·ticu·late·ness ar·tic·u·la·cy [ahr-, tik, -y, uh, -l, uh, -see], noun
• ar·tic·u·la·tive [ahr-, tik, -y, uh, -ley-tiv, -l, uh, -tiv], adjective
• misar·ticu·late verb misarticulated misarticulating
• multi·ar·ticu·late adjective
• nonar·ticu·late adjective
• nonar·ticu·late·ly adverb
• nonar·ticu·late·ness noun
• nonar·ticu·lative adjective
• over·ar·ticu·late adjective
• over·ar·ticu·late verb overarticulated overarticulating
• prear·ticu·late adjective
• pseudo·ar·ticu·late adjective
• pseudo·ar·ticu·late·ly adverb
• rear·ticu·late verb rearticulated rearticulating
• semi·ar·ticu·late adjective
• semi·ar·ticu·late·ly adverb
• subar·ticu·late adjective
• subar·ticu·late·ly adverb
• subar·ticu·late·ness noun
• subar·ticu·lative adjective
• unar·ticu·late adjective
• unar·ticu·late·ly adverb
• unar·ticu·lative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of articulate¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin articulātus, past participle of articulāre “to divide into distinct parts”; article, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of articulate¹

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

Synonym Study

See eloquent.

Example Sentences

Often called “Mr. Snap, Crackle” in tribute to his brisk, articulate drumming style, he wrote a signature tune with the same name for his own 1962 album, “Out of the Afternoon.”

From Los Angeles Times

Still, at a moment where the entire Democratic establishment appears to be wildly out of touch with the concerns of the median voter—a defeat that hinged on the party’s inability to articulate a vision of a more affordable everyday life—why am I being asked to solve their problem?

From Slate

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and Harriet Jacobs articulate a version of Black liberalism that can be described by three unifying terms: liberty, reform and progression.

From Salon

Both women show the radical possibilities of reimagining liberalism as a tradition that takes seriously the plight of women in seeking to articulate a better way to achieve America’s highest egalitarian potential.

From Salon

"It's difficult to articulate how I feel, because it's just so immense and I'm so grateful to Thame Museum."

From BBC

Related Words

• enunciate
• express
• utter