Articulate

Part of speech: verb, adjective

Pronunciation: /ɑː(ɹ)ˈtɪk.jʊ.leɪt/

Definitions

1. Able to express thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in speech or writing
2. To express ideas or feelings in a clear and effective manner ; consisting of parts connected by joints that allow movement ; having the ability to speak or write clearly and coherently
3. To communicate thoughts distinctly and understandably ; joined at points that permit flexible movement ; skilled in conveying messages convincingly and precisely

Etymology: The verb "articulate" once meant something very physical: to joint or divide into parts. Its Latin source, "articulātus," meant "distinct" or "jointed," and it comes from "articulō," which referred to the joints of the body and the separate segments of a limb. English took the adjective first, around 1531, using it in the older sense of something with clearly defined parts, before the verb appeared around 1551. The shift from anatomy to speech followed naturally. Speech was understood as a series of distinct sounds, each shaped by the mouth and tongue, so to "articulate" a word was to pronounce its parts clearly and separately. From there the meaning widened to expressing any idea with clarity and precision, so a person who articulates a point makes its structure visible, much as a well-made joint lets a limb move smoothly.

Synonyms: eloquent, expressive, coherent, fluent, clear

Antonyms: inarticulate, unintelligible, mumbled, vague, confused