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uttered clearly in distinct syllables.
capable of speech; not speechless.
using language easily and fluently; having facility with words:
an articulate speaker.
expressed, formulated, or presented with clarity and effectiveness:
an articulate thought.
made clear, distinct, and precise in relation to other parts:
an articulate form; an articulate shape; an articulate area.
(of ideas, form, etc.) having a meaningful relation to other parts:
an articulate image.
having parts or distinct areas organized into a coherent or meaningful whole; unified:
an articulate system of philosophy.
Zoology. having joints or ; composed of segments.
to utter clearly and distinctly; pronounce with clarity.
Phonetics. to make the movements and adjustments of the speech organs necessary to utter (a speech sound).
to give clarity or distinction to:
to articulate a shape; to articulate an idea.
Dentistry. to position or reposition (teeth); subject to .
to unite by a joint or joints.
to reveal or make distinct:
an injection to articulate arteries so that obstructions can be observed by x-ray.
to pronounce clearly each of a succession of speech sounds, syllables, or words; enunciate:
to articulate with excessive precision.
Phonetics. to articulate a speech sound.
Anatomy, Zoology. to form a joint.
Obsolete. to make terms of agreement.
a segmented invertebrate.
Contemporary Examples

I am not the most financially literate person (I would be hard-pressed to articulate the term “junk bond”).
Can Self-Help Books Really Make a New You? Lizzie Crocker December 28, 2014

Everyone knows Obama is intelligent, visionary and articulate.
The Runaway Senate Matt Miller November 19, 2009

He is an articulate, gifted speaker in his native Pashto, and is fluent in Persian and Arabic.
Afghan Elections: The Warlords Are Back Ron Moreau, Sami Yousafzai October 15, 2013

Other Egyptians were also among the first to articulate the rationale for a modern, secular state.
Mohammed Atta and the Egypt Revolution Terry McDermott February 13, 2011

The PA also continues to articulate euphemisms for the destruction of Israel.
Hazineh Calls for the Murder of Jews and the Mainstream Press Stays Silent Martin Krossel August 14, 2013

Historical Examples

To this period must be assigned the beginning of articulate speech.
The Discovery of America Vol. 1 (of 2) John Fiske.

I have grown tired of the articulate utterances of men and things.
De Profundis Oscar Wilde

He said, as articulate as usual when she surprised him, “Hi.”
The Ambassador Samuel Kimball Merwin

By and by, the rushing noise began to sound like articulate language.
Tanglewood Tales Nathaniel Hawthorne

It was five days later that he came fully to his senses, was able to articulate, and to frame intelligent sentences.
The Flag Homer Greene

adjective (ɑːˈtɪkjʊlɪt)
able to express oneself fluently and coherently: an articulate lecturer
having the power of speech
distinct, clear, or definite; well-constructed: an articulate voice, an articulate document
(zoology) (of arthropods and higher vertebrates) possessing joints or jointed segments
verb (ɑːˈtɪkjʊˌleɪt)
to speak or enunciate (words, syllables, etc) clearly and distinctly
(transitive) to express coherently in words
(intransitive) (zoology) to be jointed or form a joint
(transitive) to separate into jointed segments
v.

1590s, “to divide speech into distinct parts” (earlier “to formally bring charges against,” 1550s), from Latin articulatus, past participle of articulare “to separate into joints,” also “to utter distinctly,” from articulus “joint” (see article). Generalized sense of “express in words” is from 1690s. Literal sense, “to join, to attach by joints,” is attested from 1610s. Earlier senses, “to set forth in articles,” “to bring a charge against” (1560s) now are obsolete or nearly so. Related: Articulated; articulating.
adj.

1580s in the speech sense (1570s as “formulated in articles”), from Latin articulatus (see articulate (v.)). Literal meaning “composed of segments united by joints” is from c.1600; the general sense of “speaking accurately” is short for articulate-speaking (1829). Related: Articulately.

articulate ar·tic·u·late (är-tĭk’yə-lĭt)
adj.

Capable of speaking distinctly and connectedly.

Consisting of sections united by joints; jointed.

v. ar·tic·u·lat·ed, ar·tic·u·lat·ing, ar·tic·u·lates (-lāt’)

To speak distinctly and connectedly.

To join or connect together loosely to allow motion between the parts.

To unite by forming a joint or joints.

To form a joint; be jointed.