n. [ Cf. F. articulation, fr. L. articulatio. ] 1. (Anat.) A joint or juncture between bones in the skeleton. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ Articulations may be immovable, when the bones are directly united (synarthrosis), or slightly movable, when they are united intervening substance (amphiarthrosis), or they may be more or less freely movable, when the articular surfaces are covered with synovial membranes, as in complete joints (diarthrosis). The last (diarthrosis) includes hinge joints, admitting motion in one plane only (ginglymus), ball and socket joints (enarthrosis), pivot and rotation joints, etc. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Bot.) (a) The connection of the parts of a plant by joints, as in pods. (b) One of the nodes or joints, as in cane and maize. (c) One of the parts intercepted between the joints; also, a subdivision into parts at regular or irregular intervals as a result of serial intermission in growth, as in the cane, grasses, etc. Lindley. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. The act of putting together with a joint or joints; any meeting of parts in a joint. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. The state of being jointed; connection of parts. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ] That definiteness and articulation of imagery. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. The utterance of the elementary sounds of a language by the appropriate movements of the organs, as in pronunciation; as, a distinct articulation. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. A sound made by the vocal organs; an articulate utterance or an elementary sound, esp. a consonant. [ 1913 Webster ] |