Advertisement
Advertisement
bifurcate
[ verb adjective bahy-fer-keyt, bahy-fur-keyt; adjective bahy-fer-kit, bahy-fur- ]
verb (used with or without object)
- to divide or fork into two branches.
adjective
- divided into two branches.
bifurcate
verb
- to fork or divide into two parts or branches
adjective
- forked or divided into two sections or branches
bifurcate
/ bī′fər-kāt′,bī-fûr′- /
- Forked or divided into two parts or branches, as the Y-shaped styles of certain flowers or the tongues of snakes.
Discover More
Derived Forms
- ˌbifurˈcation, noun
Discover More
Other Words From
- bi·fur·cate·ly [bahy-fer-, keyt, -lee, bahy-, fur, -keyt-lee, -kit-], adverb
- bi·fur·ca·tion [bahy-fer-, key, -sh, uh, n], noun
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of bifurcate1
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of bifurcate1
Discover More
Example Sentences
You can get a split in the ridge, where it bifurcates into two—or a ridge can just stop.
Beyond the new shape and silhouette mentioned above, the credit for this superb ride goes to the layers of viscous rubber material that bifurcates the wood core lengthways.
A duo of competing text tickers on a wall pulls you in opposite directions, an effective little metaphor for a discourse bifurcated beyond reason.
Instead of a bifurcating tree, I refer to human evolution as being more like a bush.
If last year was defined by everyone feeling themselves in the same boat, this year is quickly emerging as a year of hideously bifurcated realities.
Moreover, Ma'aleh Adumim was built where it is exactly to bifurcate the West Bank.
The flaking used to bifurcate the stem appears to be of the same type as that used to bevel the stem edges.
The roads from Cagnes to Grasse and Vence bifurcate at the foot of the hill on which the castle is built.
He had a long bifurcate beard made of gold wire, feet like a bird's, and other rather startling anatomical features.
In the second form they bifurcate in the same mariner, but the two branches are spirals.
Distal apex bifid or bifurcate, with two thin parallel teeth.
Advertisement
Discover More
More About Bifurcate
What does bifurcate mean?
Birfurcate means to divide or fork into two branches.
Things can bifurcate on their own or in an otherwise passive way, as in That’s where the river bifurcates into two branches, or they can be bifurcated by someone, as in We bifurcated the road into two lanes so more people could exit at once.
The word bifurcate can be used as an adjective meaning divided into two branches, but the adjective bifurcated is more commonly used in this way. The word bifurcation refers to the act of bifurcating or something that is bifurcated. These terms are most often used in technical and scientific contexts, such as engineering and medicine.
Example: The hiking trail bifurcates about three miles in, so make sure you go down the left branch.
Where does bifurcate come from?
The first records of bifurcate come from the early 1600s. It comes from the Medieval Latin bifurcātus, formed from the prefix bi-, meaning “two,” and the root furc(a), meaning “fork” (as in a fork in the road or a river).
In normal conversation, you’d say that a road or a river forks, not that it bifurcates, unless you were being technical about it. Bifurcate is used in many contexts in which structures are discussed in technical or scientific terms. Bifurcations can be found throughout nature in things like Y-shaped flowers, the tongues of snakes, even parts of the human body that fork into different channels, such as the arteries of the heart.
Bifurcate can also be used in the context of entities like organizations or governments that are split into different parts or factions. In golf, bifurcation refers to the proposal to have different equipment for professional and amateur players.
Things don’t always fork exactly in two—they can also trifurcate or furcate into multiple branches.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to bifurcate?
- bifurcated (past tense verb, adjective)
- bifurcation (noun)
What are some synonyms for bifurcate?
What are some words that share a root or word element with bifurcate?
What are some words that often get used in discussing bifurcate?
How is bifurcate used in real life?
Bifurcate is usually used in technical or scientific contexts, especially biology, medicine, and engineering.
Lower Manhattan bifurcates Upper Bay into East River and Hudson River. pic.twitter.com/ZKlnM1a4Hx
— Diane (@fairliehope) March 5, 2019
The new digital cold war risks bifurcating the internet into two blocs – one led by the US and the other controlled by Chinahttps://t.co/WPpOygDlB6
— 1828 (@1828uk) September 1, 2020
“One road bifurcates in a green forest…” Robert Frost crumples up the page and starts again. And that has made all the difference. #15tt
— Jocelyn Rish (@JocelynRish) January 8, 2012
Try using bifurcate!
Which of the following things is likely to bifurcate?
A. a tree limb
B. an artery
C. a river
D. all of the above
Word of the Day
[tawr-choo-uhs ]
Meaning and examplesStart each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!
By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse