I. är-ˈti-kyə-lət adjective
Etymology: Latin articulatus jointed, past participle of articulare, from articulus
Date: 1586
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 in this manner
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
II. -ˌlāt verb
( -lat·ed ; -lat·ing )
Date: 1551
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 articulate 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