trifurcate

[ trahy-fur-keyt, trahy-fer-keyt; adjective trahy-fur-kit, trahy-fer- ]

verb (used without object)

, tri·fur·cat·ed, tri·fur·cat·ing.

1. to divide into three forks or branches.

adjective

1. Also tri·furcat·ed. divided into three forks or branches.

trifurcate

/ -ˌkeɪt; ˈtraɪfɜːkɪt /

adjective

1. having three branches or forks

Derived Forms

• ˌtrifurˈcation, noun

Other Words From

• trifur·cation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trifurcate¹

First recorded in 1650–60; tri-, furcate

Word History and Origins

Origin of trifurcate¹

from Latin trifurcus , from tri- + furca a fork

Example Sentences

There are two dorsal fins, slightly connected; the caudal fin is double concave or trifurcate.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Trifurcate

What does trifurcate mean?

Trifurcate means to divide or fork into three branches.

Things can trifurcate on their own or in an otherwise passive way, as in That’s where the river trifurcates into three branches, or they can be trifurcated by someone, as in We trifurcated the road into three lanes so more people could exit at once. 

The word trifurcate can be used as an adjective meaning divided into three branches, but the adjective trifurcated is more commonly used in this way. The word trifurcation refers to the act of trifurcating or something that is trifurcated. These terms are most often used in technical and scientific contexts, such as engineering and medicine.

The related and more common word bifurcate means to divide or fork into two branches.

Example: The hiking trail trifurcates after about four miles, so make sure you go down the middle path and not the ones on the right or left.

Where does trifurcate come from?

The first records of trifurcate come from the mid-1600s. It comes from the Latin trifurcus, from the prefix tri-, meaning “three,” and furc(a), meaning “fork” (as in a fork in the road or a river).

When a road or a river splits into two, you’d say it forks, or even bifurcates. Saying it forks can indicate that it splits into multiple channels, but if you want to specifically say that it splits into three, you can say it trifurcates. Trifurcate is used in many contexts in which structures are discussed in technical or scientific terms. Trifurcations can be found throughout nature, including parts of the human body that fork into three different channels, such as some arteries of the heart.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to trifurcate?

• trifurcated (past tense verb, adjective)
• trifurcation (noun)

What are some words that share a root or word element with trifurcate? 

• bifurcate
• furcate
• fork

What are some words that often get used in discussing trifurcate?

• split
• fork
• branch
• divide
• river
• road
• path
• trail
• lane
• channel
• artery
• valve

How is trifurcate used in real life?

Trifurcate is often used in technical contexts, but it can be applied in any situation in which something is being split into three parts.

Blog post: Sunset Park Elm: Broader than taller, with a giant limb that trifurcates into prongs that sweep down low. https://t.co/Na9doqE3Gl

— Matthew Wills (@backyardbeyond) November 1, 2015

Andhra Pradesh High Court stays move to trifurcate State Capital, shift offices from Amaravati on farmers' pleahttps://t.co/IE0370deji

— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) August 6, 2020

My son just informed me that he trifurcates all of humanity into “weirdos,” “brainiacs,” and “sheep.” (???)

— Tycho Brahe (@TychoBrahe) May 3, 2015

 

 

Try using trifurcate!

Which of the following things is likely to trifurcate?

A. a tree limb
B. an artery
C. a river
D. all of the above