First Known Use: 1586
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
See articulate defined for English-language learners
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Examples of ARTICULATE
- 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
- The engaging and articulate Bol makes campers realize how fortunate they are to have the freedoms enjoyed in America, and he emphasizes the importance of capitalizing on their opportunities to get the most out of life. —Chris Broussard, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2002
- Among the most articulate critics of the tests are the boycotting students, who complain about narrowing opportunities and shrinking curricula. —Peter Schrag, Atlantic, August 2000
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Origin of ARTICULATE
Latin articulatus jointed, past participle of articulare, from articulus (see 1article)
Related to ARTICULATE
- Synonyms
- eloquent, fluent, silver-tongued, well-spoken
- Antonyms
- inarticulate, ineloquent, unvocal
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
Rhymes with ARTICULATE
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
See articulate defined for English-language learners
Examples of ARTICULATE
- 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
- “Fiction just doesn't interest me,” one 41-year-old construction worker told CNN. “If I'm going to get a story, I'll get a movie,” he said, articulating an attitude surely shared by many others in our media-saturated world. —Sara Nelson, Publishers Weekly, 27 Aug. 2007
- Erudite, elderly, and introspective, one of my patients articulates clearly some of today's dilemmas facing both alcoholic patients and their physicians. —Thomas L. Delbanco, Journal of the American Medical Association, 13 Mar. 1996
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Origin of ARTICULATE
(see 1articulate)
First Known Use: 1551
Related to ARTICULATE
- Synonyms
- enunciate
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
ARTICULATE[1] 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.>
Learn More About ARTICULATE
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