articulate

UK: adjective: /ɑː^rˈtɪkjʊlət/, verb: /ɑː^rˈtɪkjuleɪt/

US: /adj. ɑrˈtɪkjəlɪt; v. -ˌleɪt/

US: (adj., n. är tik′yə lit; v. är tik′yə lāt′)

Inflections of 'articulate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

articulates

v 3rd person singular

articulating

v pres p

articulated

v past

articulated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ar•tic•u•late /adj. ɑrˈtɪkyəlɪt; v. -ˌleɪt/   adj., v., -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 
adj. 

1. (of speech or speech sounds) pronounced clearly and distinctly:
   articulate pronunciation.
2. capable of, expressed with, or showing clarity:
   the candidate's articulate speech.
3. Zoology having joints or parts that are joined:
   [before a noun] articulate segments of a worm.

v. 

4. to pronounce (speech sounds) clearly and distinctly: [no object]
   She articulated so as to be understood.
   [~ + object]
   She articulated the vowels carefully.
5. to put (an idea) clearly into speech:
   [~ + object] articulated his philosophy clearly.
6. to unite by a joint or joints: [no object]
   The shoulder and arm bones articulate.
   [~ + object]
   The bones are articulated.

ar•tic•u•late•ly, adv. 
ar•tic•u•late•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ar•tic•u•late  (adj., n. är tik′yə lit;v. är tik′yə lāt′), adj., v., -lat•ed, -lat•ing, n. 
adj. 

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.

v.t. 

9. to utter clearly and distinctly;
   pronounce with clarity.
10. Phonetics to make the movements and adjustments of the speech organs necessary to utter (a speech sound).
11. to give clarity or distinction to:
    to articulate a shape; to articulate an idea.
12. [Dentistry.] to subject to articulation.
13. to unite by a joint or joints.
14. to reveal or make distinct:
    an injection to articulate arteries so that obstructions can be observed by x-ray.

v.i. 

15. to pronounce clearly each of a succession of speech sounds, syllables, or words;
    enunciate:
    to articulate with excessive precision.
16. Phonetics to articulate a speech sound.
17. Zoology [Anat., Zool.] to form a joint.
18. [Obs.] to make terms of agreement.

n. 

19. a segmented invertebrate.

• Latin articulātus, past participle of articulāre to divide into distinct parts. See article, -ate¹
• 1545–55

ar•tic•u•la•ble  (är tik′yə lə bəl), adj.  ar•tic′u•late•ly, adv. 
ar•tic′u•late•ness, ar•tic•u•la•cy  (är tik′yə lə sē), n.  ar•tic•u•la•tive  (är tik′yə lā′tiv, -lə tiv), adj.  Synonyms

• 4. expressive. See eloquent. 
• 9. enunciate.

Antonyms

• 4. inarticulate, unintelligible.
• 9. mumble.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

articulate adjective / ɑːˈtɪkjʊlɪt/

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

verb / ɑːˈtɪkjʊˌleɪt/

1. to speak or enunciate (words, syllables, etc) clearly and distinctly
2. (transitive) to express coherently in words

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin articulāre to divide into joints; see article

arˈticulately adverb

arˈticulateness, arˈticulacy noun