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bifurcate

 - 5 dictionary results

bi⋅fur⋅cate

  [v., adj. bahy-fer-keyt, bahy-fur-keyt; adj. also bahy-fer-kit, bahy-fur-] verb, -cat⋅ed, -cat⋅ing, adjective
Use bifurcate in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
1. to divide or fork into two branches.
–adjective
2. divided into two branches.
Origin:
1605–15; < ML bifurcātus, ptp. of bifurcāre (bi- bi- 1 + furc(a) fork + -ātus -ate 1 )

Related forms:
bi⋅fur⋅cate⋅ly  [bahy-fer-keyt-lee; bahy-fur-keyt-lee, -kit-] , adverb
bi⋅fur⋅ca⋅tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To bifurcate
bi·fur·cate   (bī'fər-kāt', bī-fûr'-)   
v.   bi·fur·cat·ed, bi·fur·cat·ing, bi·fur·cates

v.   tr.
To divide into two parts or branches.
v.   intr.
To separate into two parts or branches; fork.
adj.   (-kāt', -kĭt)
Forked or divided into two parts or branches, as the Y-shaped styles of certain flowers.

[Medieval Latin bifurcāre, bifurcāt-, to divide, from Latin bifurcus, two-pronged : bi-, two; see bi-1 + furca, fork.]
bi'fur·cate'ly adv., bi'fur·ca'tion n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

bifurcate 
1615, from M.L. bifurcatus, from L. bi- + furca, the root of fork.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: bi·fur·cate
Pronunciation: 'bI-(")f&r-"kAt, bI-'f&r-
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Forms:-cat·ed;-cat·ing
: to divide into two branches or parts —bi·fur·cate /(')bI-'f&r-k&t, -"kAt; 'bI-(")f&r-"kAt/ or bi·fur·cat·ed /-"kAt-&d/ adjective —bi·fur·ca·tion /"bI-(")f&r-'kA-sh&n/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

bifurcate bi·fur·cate (bī'fər-kāt', bī-fûr'-)
v. bi·fur·cat·ed, bi·fur·cat·ing, bi·fur·cates
To divide into two parts or branches. adj. (-kāt', -kĭt)
Forked or divided into two parts or branches.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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