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divaricate
[ verb dahy-var-i-keyt, dih-; adjective dahy-var-uh-kit, -keyt, dih- ]
/ verb daɪˈvær ɪˌkeɪt, dɪ-; adjective daɪˈvær ə kɪt, -ˌkeɪt, dɪ- /
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verb (used without object), di·var·i·cat·ed, di·var·i·cat·ing.
to spread apart; branch; diverge.
Botany, Zoology. to branch at a wide angle.
adjective
spread apart; widely divergent.
Botany, Zoology. branching at a wide angle.
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Origin of divaricate
1615–25; <Latin dīvāricātus (past participle of dīvāricāre), equivalent to dīdi-2 + vāric- (base of vāricāre to straddle; see prevaricate) + -ātus-ate1
OTHER WORDS FROM divaricate
di·var·i·cate·ly, adverbdi·var·i·cat·ing·ly, adverbdi·var·i·ca·tion, noundi·var·i·ca·tor, nounWords nearby divaricate
diva, divagate, divalent, divalproex sodium, divan, divaricate, divarication, divaricator, dive, dive-bomb, dive bomber
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use divaricate in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for divaricate
divaricate
verb (daɪˈværɪˌkeɪt)
(intr) (esp of branches) to diverge at a wide angle
adjective (daɪˈværɪkɪt, -ˌkeɪt)
branching widely; forked
Derived forms of divaricate
divaricately, adverbdivaricatingly, adverbdivarication, nounWord Origin for divaricate
C17: from Latin dīvāricāre to stretch apart, from di- ² + vāricāre to stand astride
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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