/ kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt; NAmE / verb
EXCHANGE INFORMATION
1.
communicate (with sb) to exchange information, news, ideas, etc. with sb :
[ v ]
We only communicate by email.
They communicated in sign language.
Dolphins use sound to communicate with each other.
[ vn ]
to communicate information / a message to sb
SHARE IDEAS / FEELINGS
2.
to make your ideas, feelings, thoughts, etc. known to other people so that they understand them :
[ vn ]
He was eager to communicate his ideas to the group.
Her nervousness was communicating itself to the children.
[ v ]
Candidates must be able to communicate effectively.
[also v wh- ]
3.
[ v ] communicate (with sb) to have a good relationship because you are able to understand and talk about your own and other people's thoughts, feelings, etc. :
The novel is about a family who can't communicate with each other.
DISEASE
4.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] to pass a disease from one person, animal, etc. to another :
The disease is communicated through dirty drinking water.
OF TWO ROOMS
5.
[ v ] if two rooms communicate , they are next to each other and you can get from one to the other :
a communicating door (= one that connects two rooms)
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: from Latin communicat- shared, from the verb communicare to share, from communis common.