# articulate

Pronunciation: US say "ar-TIK-yuh-luht" /ɑːɹˈtɪk.jə.lət/; UK say "ar-TIK-yuu-luht" /ɑː(ɹ)ˈtɪk.jʊ.lət/

## Adjective

1. Able to express thoughts clearly and effectively in speech, with good enunciation and delivery.
   - Simple: Able to speak clearly and put ideas into good words.
   - _The candidate was remarkably articulate during the televised debate._
   - _Articulate witnesses tend to make a strong impression on a jury._
5. Clear and effective in expression or form.
   - Simple: Clear and easy to understand.
   - _He gave an articulate account of how the accident happened._
   - _The proposal was articulate and tightly structured._
8. Made up of segments united by joints.
   - Simple: Made of separate parts joined together so they can bend.
   - _Lobsters and crabs have an articulate exoskeleton._
   - _The model used an articulate frame so each limb could move freely._
9. Distinctly separated or marked off into parts.
   - Simple: Clearly separated or marked off into parts.
   - _The map showed articulate boundaries between the regions._
   - _The composition has articulate sections, each set clearly apart._

## Verb

Pronunciation: US say "ar-TIK-yuh-layt" /ɑːɹˈtɪk.jə.leɪt/; UK say "ar-TIK-yuu-layt" /ɑː(ɹ)ˈtɪk.jʊ.leɪt/

2. To pronounce words clearly and distinctly; to enunciate.
   - Simple: To say words clearly so other people can understand you.
   - _The actor trained to articulate even under intense emotional strain._
   - _She articulated each consonant with great care for the recording._
3. To put thoughts or feelings into words; to explain or state something specifically.
   - Simple: To put an idea or feeling into clear words.
   - _The report tries to articulate a vision for the next decade._
   - _She articulated the problem in terms everyone understood._
4. To make something clear or effective in its expression or design.
   - Simple: To make something clear or easy to understand.
   - _Careful spacing can articulate the rhythm of a poem._
   - _The architect articulated the facade with bold vertical lines._
6. To hinge or build something so that it can bend at intervals.
   - Simple: To build something with parts that can bend or fold at set points.
   - _Manufacturers articulate the long trailer to improve its turning radius._
   - _The sculptor articulated the figure's limbs with movable joints._
7. To connect with another part by forming a joint.
   - Simple: To meet and connect at a joint, the way bones do.
   - _The ribs articulate with the vertebrae along the spine._
   - _The femur articulates with the pelvis at the hip._
10. To attack or shape a musical note, as by tonguing, slurring, or bowing.
   - Simple: To play a musical note in a clear, controlled way.
   - _Wind players must articulate every note precisely in the rapid run._
   - _The cellist articulated the phrase with short, separated bow strokes._

## Noun

11. An animal belonging to the former subkingdom Articulata, having a body built from united segments.
   - Simple: An animal whose body is made of joined segments.
   - _Insects and worms were once grouped together as articulates._
   - _Each articulate in the old classification had a body of repeated segments._

## Adjective

12. Of sound or speech, belonging to human language rather than the cries of animals. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: About human speech, not the sounds animals make.
   - _The philosopher distinguished articulate speech from the howls of wolves._
   - _To the old grammarians, only articulate utterance counted as true language._
13. Set out in separate articles, items, or particular points. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Set out in separate items or points.
14. Joined or connected by movable joints. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Joined together with movable joints so it can bend.
   - _The vehicle was articulate, bending at a pivot between its two halves._
   - _An articulate skeleton, its bones wired at every joint, stood in the hall._

## Verb

Pronunciation: US say "ar-TIK-yuh-layt" /ɑːɹˈtɪk.jə.leɪt/; UK say "ar-TIK-yuu-layt" /ɑː(ɹ)ˈtɪk.jʊ.leɪt/

15. To negotiate; to come to terms with another party. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To talk and agree on terms, like making a deal.
   - _The besieged garrison sent word that it wished to articulate._
   - _Both sides articulated until a settlement was finally reached._

## Origin

First recorded as an adjective in 1531 and as a verb in 1551, it was borrowed from Latin articulātus, meaning 'distinct, articulated, jointed,' the perfect passive participle of articulō.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/articulate (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).