trifurcate

American  

[trahy-fur-keyt, trahy-fer-keyt, trahy-fur-kit, trahy-fer-] / traɪˈfɜr keɪt, ˈtraɪ fərˌkeɪt, traɪˈfɜr kɪt, ˈtraɪ fər- /

verb (used without object)

trifurcated, trifurcating

1. to divide into three forks or branches.

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adjective

1. Also trifurcated. divided into three forks or branches.

trifurcate British  

/ -ˌkeɪt, ˈtraɪfɜːkɪt /

adjective

1. having three branches or forks

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Usage

What does trifurcate mean? Trifurcate means to divide or fork into three branches. Things can trifurcate on their own or in an otherwise passive way, as in That’s where the river trifurcates into three branches, or they can be trifurcated by someone, as in We trifurcated the road into three lanes so more people could exit at once. The word trifurcate can be used as an adjective meaning divided into three branches, but the adjective trifurcated is more commonly used in this way. The word trifurcation refers to the act of trifurcating or something that is trifurcated. These terms are most often used in technical and scientific contexts, such as engineering and medicine. The related and more common word bifurcate means to divide or fork into two branches. Example: The hiking trail trifurcates after about four miles, so make sure you go down the middle path and not the ones on the right or left.

Other Word Forms

• trifurcation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of trifurcate

First recorded in 1650–60; see origin at tri-, furcate

Example Sentences

There is an additional person to trifurcate bills.

From Washington Post • Jan. 31, 2022

Triadelphous†, triangular, tricuspid, tricapsular†, tridental†, tridentate, tridentiferous†, trifoliate, trifurcate, trigonal†, trigrammic†, trigrammatic†, tripetalous†, tripodal, tripodic†, triquetral†, triquetrous†.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Roget, Peter Mark