bifurcate
[ verb, adjective bahy-fer-keyt, bahy-fur-keyt; adjective bahy-fer-kit, bahy-fur- ]
/ verb, adjective ˈbaɪ fərˌkeɪt, baɪˈfɜr keɪt; adjective ˈbaɪ fər kɪt, baɪˈfɜr- /
verb (used with or without object), bi·fur·cat·ed, bi·fur·cat·ing.
to divide or fork into two branches.
adjective
divided into two branches.
Nearby words
biforked, biform, bifrost, bifter, bifunctional, bifurcate, bifurcation, big, big and bold, big apple, big apple, the
Origin of bifurcate
Related forms
bi·fur·cate·ly [bahy-fer-keyt-lee; bahy-fur-keyt-lee, -kit-] /ˌbaɪ fərˈkeɪt li; baɪˈfɜr keɪt li, -kɪt-/, adverbbi·fur·ca·tion, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for bifurcate
British Dictionary definitions for bifurcate
bifurcate
verb (ˈbaɪfəˌkeɪt)
to fork or divide into two parts or branches
adjective (ɪbaɪˈfəˌkeɪt, -kɪt)
forked or divided into two sections or branches
Derived Forms
bifurcation, nounWord Origin for bifurcate
C17: from Medieval Latin bifurcātus, from Latin bifurcus, from bi- 1 + furca fork
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medicine definitions for bifurcate
bifurcate
[ bī′fər-kāt′, bī-fûr′- ]
v.
To divide into two parts or branches.
adj.
Forked or divided into two parts or branches.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for bifurcate
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.