communicate

 
Pronunciation: /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/

verb

[no object]
  • 1share or exchange information, news, or ideas: the prisoner was forbidden to communicate with his family
  • [with object] impart or pass on (information, news, or ideas): he communicated his findings to the inspector
  • [with object] convey or transmit (an emotion or feeling) in a non-verbal way: the ability of good teachers to communicate their own enthusiasm his sudden fear communicated itself
  • succeed in conveying one’s ideas or in evoking understanding in others: a politician must have the ability to communicate
  • (of two people) be able to share and understand each other’s thoughts and feelings: we don’t seem to be communicating—we need a break from each other
  • 2 [with object] pass on (an infectious disease) to another person or animal: the disease is communicated from one person to another
  • transmit (heat or motion): the heat is communicated through a small brass grating
  • 3 (often as adjective communicating) (of two rooms) have a common connecting door: he went into the communicating room to pick up the phone
  • 4receive Holy Communion: orthodox policy is to communicate in both kinds (i.e. both bread and wine)

Derivatives

communicator

noun

communicatory

adjective

Origin:

early 16th century: from Latin communicat- 'shared', from the verb communicare, from communis (see common)

Spelling help

Spell communicate and the related word communication with a double m.