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divaricate

 - 2 dictionary results

di⋅var⋅i⋅cate

  [v. dahy-var-i-keyt, di-; adj. dahy-var-uh-kit, -keyt, di-] verb, -cat⋅ed, -cat⋅ing, adjective
Use divaricate in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to spread apart; branch; diverge.
2. Botany, Zoology. to branch at a wide angle.
–adjective
3. spread apart; widely divergent.
4. Botany, Zoology. branching at a wide angle.
Origin:
1615–25; < L dīvāricātus (ptp. of dīvāricāre), equiv. to dī di- 2 + vāric- (base of vāricāre to straddle; see prevaricate ) + -ātus -ate 1

Related forms:
di⋅var⋅i⋅cate⋅ly, adverb
di⋅var⋅i⋅cat⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
di⋅var⋅i⋅ca⋅tion, noun
di⋅var⋅i⋅ca⋅tor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To divaricate
di·var·i·cate   (dī-vār'ĭ-kāt', dĭ-)   
intr.v.   di·var·i·cat·ed, di·var·i·cat·ing, di·var·i·cates
To diverge at a wide angle; spread apart.
adj.   (dī-vār'ə-kĭt, -kāt', dĭ-)

  1. Biology Branching or spreading widely from a point or axis, as branches or on an insect's wings; diverging.

  2. Relating to a separation of two bones normally adjacent or attached but not located in a joint; distatic.


[Latin dīvāricāre, dīvāricāt- : dī, dis-, dis- + vāricāre, to straddle (from vārus, bent).]
di·var'i·cate'ly adv.
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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