I. ar ‧ tic ‧ u ‧ late 1 /ɑːˈtɪkjəleɪt, ɑːˈtɪkjʊleɪt $ ɑːr-/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of articulare 'to divide into joints, speak clearly' , from articulus ; ⇨ ↑ article ]
1 . [transitive] formal to express your ideas or feelings in words:
Many people are unable to articulate the unhappiness they feel.
2 . [intransitive and transitive] to pronounce what you are saying in a clear and careful way:
He was so drunk that he could barely articulate his words.
3 . [intransitive and transitive] technical if something such as a bone in your body is articulated to another thing, it is joined to it in a way that allows movement
4 . articulate something with something formal if one idea, system etc articulates with another idea, system etc, the two things are related and exist together:
a new course that is designed to articulate with the current degree course
II. ar ‧ tic ‧ u ‧ late 2 /ɑːˈtɪkjələt, ɑːˈtɪkjʊlət $ ɑːr-/ BrE AmE adjective
1 . able to talk easily and effectively about things, especially difficult subjects OPP inarticulate :
bright, articulate 17-year-olds
a highly articulate speaker
2 . writing or speech that is articulate is very clear and easy to understand even if the subject is difficult
—articulately adverb
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ talkative a talkative person likes to talk a lot – also used about people’s moods:
He’s very talkative with his friends and family.
|
Benjamin was in a talkative mood.
▪ chatty liking to talk a lot in a friendly way – a rather informal use:
I like her – she’s always cheerful and chatty.
|
The chatty girl on the phone answered most of my questions.
▪ articulate able to talk easily and effectively about things, especially difficult subjects:
All the applicants we interviewed were intelligent and articulate.
|
These were articulate people, well able to deal with the press and media.
▪ eloquent able to express your ideas and opinions well – used especially about people who speak in public and are able to influence people:
an eloquent public speaker
▪ garrulous formal talking a lot, especially about unimportant things:
A garrulous old man was sitting near me in the bar.
|
He became more garrulous as the evening went on.
▪ you can’t shut him/her up informal used to say humorously that someone talks all the time:
You can’t shut him up so I never get any work done when he’s here.
▪ chatterbox informal someone, especially a child, who talks a lot :
Cathy’s a real chatterbox.