articulate

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language

   articulate speech

2. 2
   verb

   to express or state clearly

   I articulated my needs.

3. 3
   verb

   to speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way

   I was known to articulate the letter t very clearly.

4. 4
   verb

   to put into words or an expression

   I'm trying to articulate my feelings here, but I'm having difficulty.

5. 5
   verb

   to provide with a joint

   I articulated the bat skeleton.

6. 6
   verb

   to unite by forming a joint or joints

   The ankle bone articulates with the leg bones to form the ankle bones.

7. 7
   verb

   To speak clearly; to enunciate.

   I wish he’d articulate his words more clearly.

8. 8
   verb

   To explain; to put into words; to make something specific.

   I like this painting, but I can’t articulate why.

Etymology

The adjective is first attested in 1531, the verb in 1551; borrowed from Latin articulātus (“distinct, articulated, jointed”), perfect passive participle of articulō, see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3). Regular participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.