furcate

American  

[fur-keyt, -kit, fur-keyt] / ˈfɜr keɪt, -kɪt, ˈfɜr keɪt /

adjective

1. forked; branching.

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verb (used without object)

furcated, furcating

1. to form a fork; branch.

furcate British  

verb

1. to divide into two parts; fork

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adjective

1. forked; divided

   furcate branches

Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• furcation noun
• multifurcate adjective
• unfurcate adjective

Etymology

Origin of furcate

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

Related Words

• cut across