furcate

[fur-keyt, -kit, fur-keyt]

adjective

1. forked; branching.

verb (used without object)

furcated, furcating 

1. to form a fork; branch.

furcate

verb

1. to divide into two parts; fork

adjective

1. forked; divided

   furcate branches

Other Word Forms

• furcation noun
• multifurcate adjective
• unfurcate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of furcate¹

First recorded in 1810–20, furcate is from the Medieval Latin word furcātus cloven. See fork, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of furcate¹

C19: from Late Latin furcātus forked, from Latin furca a fork

Example Sentences

Sporangia fasciculate, confluent on a persistent hypothallus, dark fuscous; peridia very fugacious; stipes united at the base, erect, furcate; spores large, brown, globose.

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The tail soon acquires the furcate form with which we made acquaintance in the last Prawn-Zoea described.

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The stems are branched in a furcate manner and confluent at the base, forming a compact tuft.

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The threads appear at first sight entirely simple, but are really several times furcate, and not infrequently anastomose.

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Related Words

• cut across 

When To Use

What does furcate mean?

Furcate means to fork or divide into branches or different parts.It can also be used as an adjective meaning forked or branching. The adjective furcated can be used to mean the same thing.Things can furcate on their own or in an otherwise passive way, as in That’s where the river furcates into two branches, or they can be furcated by someone, as in We furcated the road into multiple lanes so more people could exit at once. The related verb bifurcate means to divide or fork into two branches or parts, and trifurcate means to divide or fork into three.The noun furcation refers to the act of furcating or to something that is forked or has been split in such a way. These terms are most often used in technical and scientific contexts, such as engineering and medicine.Example: The hiking trail furcates about three miles in, so make sure you go down the left branch.