bifurcate

American  

[bahy-fer-keyt, bahy-fur-keyt, bahy-fer-kit, bahy-fur-] / ˈbaɪ fərˌkeɪt, baɪˈfɜr keɪt, ˈbaɪ fər kɪt, baɪˈfɜr- /

verb (used with or without object)

bifurcated, bifurcating

1. to divide or fork into two branches.

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adjective

1. divided into two branches.

bifurcate British  

verb

1. to fork or divide into two parts or branches

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adjective

1. forked or divided into two sections or branches

bifurcate Scientific  

/ bī′fər-kāt′,bī-fûr′- /

1. Forked or divided into two parts or branches, as the Y-shaped styles of certain flowers or the tongues of snakes.

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• bifurcately adverb
• bifurcation noun

Etymology

Origin of bifurcate

First recorded in 1605–15; from Medieval Latin bifurcātus “forked in two,” past participle of bifurcāre “to fork in two,” from bi- bi- ¹ ( def. ) + furc(a) fork ( def. ) + -āre, infinitive verb suffix

Example Sentences

“Do I just stop looking for a full-time job and continue on with contract work? Or do I continue to do this bifurcated approach?”

From The Wall Street Journal

What Slok labels a “bifurcated economy” is a drag on overall U.S. growth.

From MarketWatch

Finally, a raging bull market has boosted the wealth of upper-income families, leading to what economists call a bifurcated economy.

From MarketWatch

Finally, a raging bull market has boosted the wealth of upper-income families, leading to what economists call a bifurcated economy.

From MarketWatch

Leyden said he is also seeing signs of a bifurcated economy, with well-off consumers still spending freely.

From The Wall Street Journal