articolato

Articolato is an Italian adjective meaning articulated or jointed, describing objects that are composed of two or more sections connected by a hinge or pivot to allow movement. The term derives from Latin through Italian and is used across technical and everyday contexts to indicate a built-in flexibility or connection between parts.

In transportation, articolato is most commonly encountered in two forms. An autobus articolato is a long bus consisting of two rigid sections linked by a central articulation. This arrangement increases passenger capacity while preserving maneuverability in urban environments, with the middle joint allowing relative movement between sections during turns. A tractor-trailer or autocarro articolato (often referred to as an articulated truck) describes a combination of a tractor unit and a semi-trailer joined by a pivot, enabling greater payloads and a more favorable weight distribution for highway use.

Outside road vehicles, articolato also applies to machinery and robotics. An articulated crane, robotic arm, or other mechanism with multiple segments connected by joints may be described as articolato, highlighting its range of motion and flexibility. In anatomy, the related concept is articulation (articolazione), the joints that connect bones; the term articolato is sometimes used in non-medical descriptions of jointed structures.

Usage varies by context, but in Italian, articolato generally conveys the idea of a multi-section, hinge-connected design designed to combine extended reach or capacity with controlled mobility.