a small usually metal implement consisting of two, three, or four long thin prongs on the end of a handle, used for lifting food to the mouth or turning it in cooking, etc
2.
an agricultural tool consisting of a handle and three or four metal prongs, used for lifting, digging, etc
3.
a pronged part of any machine, device, etc
4.
of a road, river, etc
a. a division into two or more branches
b. the point where the division begins
c. such a branch
5.
chiefly (US) the main tributary of a river
6.
chess a position in which two pieces are forked
—vb
7.
(tr) to pick up, dig, etc, with a fork
8.
(tr) chess to place (two enemy pieces) under attack with one of one's own pieces, esp a knight
9.
(tr) to make into the shape of a fork
10.
(intr) to be divided into two or more branches
11.
to take one or other branch at a fork in a road, river, etc
O.E. forca "forked instrument used by torturers," from L. furca "pitchfork," of uncertain origin. Table forks were not generally used in England until 15c. The word is first attested in this sense in English in a will of 1463, probably from O.N.Fr. forque, from the L. word. The verb "to divide in branches"
is from the noun. Related: Forked; forking. The slang verb phrase fork up (or out) "give over" is from 1831.