Dictionary

1articulate

adjective ar·tic·u·late \är-ˈti-kyə-lət\

: able to express ideas clearly and effectively in speech or writing

: clearly expressed and easily understood

Full Definition of ARTICULATE

1
a :  divided into syllables or words meaningfully arranged :  intelligible
b :  able to speak
c :  expressing oneself readily, clearly, or effectively <an articulate teacher>; also :  expressed readily, clearly, or effectively <an articulate argument>
2
a :  consisting of segments united by joints :  jointed <articulate animals>
b :  distinctly marked off
ar·tic·u·late·ly adverb
ar·tic·u·late·ness noun
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Examples of ARTICULATE

  1. But he clearly adored his quick-witted and mercilessly articulate elder daughter. Contrary to feminist accounts of her patriarchal imprisonment, Emily Dickinson's objections to her father's strictures had an affectionate tone … —Christopher Benfey, New York Review of Books, 17 Jan. 2002

Origin of ARTICULATE

Latin articulatus jointed, past participle of articulare, from articulus (see 1article)
First Known Use: 1586

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

2articulate

verb ar·tic·u·late \är-ˈti-kyə-ˌlāt\

: to express (something, such as an idea) in words

: to say or pronounce (something, such as a word) in a way that can be clearly heard and understood

: to connect with a joint or something that is like a joint

ar·tic·u·lat·edar·tic·u·lat·ing

Full Definition of ARTICULATE

transitive verb
1
a :  to give clear and effective utterance to :  put into words <articulate one's grievances>
b :  to utter distinctly <articulating each note in the musical phrase>
c :  to give definition to (as a shape or object) <shades of gray were chosen to articulate different spaces — Carol Vogel>
d :  to give shape or expression to (as a theme or concept) <a drama that uses eerie props to articulate a sense of foreboding>
2
a :  to unite by or as if by means of a joint :  joint
b :  to form or fit into a systematic whole <articulating a program for all school grades>
intransitive verb
1
:  to utter clear and understandable sounds
2
:  to become united or connected by or as if by a joint
ar·tic·u·la·tive \-lə-tiv, -ˌlā-\ adjective
ar·tic·u·la·tor \-ˌlā-tər\ noun

Examples of ARTICULATE

  1. She was shocked, she told me, to see that he insisted on talking about her ideas—and about the pains and hopes that gave rise to them. The only way to keep it is to give it away, he told her, articulating and enacting the essence of altruism. —Joshua Wolf Shenk, Atlantic, June 2009

Origin of ARTICULATE

(see 1articulate)
First Known Use: 1551

Rhymes with ARTICULATE

abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
ARTICULATING Defined for Kids

1articulate

adjective ar·tic·u·late \är-ˈti-kyə-lət\

Definition of ARTICULATE for Kids

1
:  clearly understandable <an articulate essay>
2
:  able to express oneself clearly and well <an articulate speaker>
ar·tic·u·late·ly adverb

2articulate

verb ar·tic·u·late \är-ˈti-kyə-ˌlāt\
ar·tic·u·lat·edar·tic·u·lat·ing

Definition of ARTICULATE for Kids

:  to speak or pronounce clearly <Be sure to articulate your words.>

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