bifurcate
[ verb, adjective bahy-fer-keyt, bahy-fur-keyt; adjective also bahy-fer-kit, bahy-fur- ]
/ verb, adjective ˈbaɪ fərˌkeɪt, baɪˈfɜr keɪt; adjective also ˈbaɪ fər kɪt, baɪˈfɜr- /
Save This Word!
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.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of bifurcate
OTHER WORDS FROM bifurcate
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. 2023
How to use bifurcate in a sentence
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 of bifurcate
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
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific 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.