bifurcate — to divide into two branches or parts
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to divide into two branches or parts
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈbaɪfərkeɪt/
Example Sentences
- My life seemed to bifurcate after college - half wanting to travel, half wanting to settle down.
- His mustache bifurcated so perfectly that people joked he used a ruler to groom it.
- The hiking trail bifurcates here - left leads to the waterfall, right to the summit.
bifurcate
VERB[/ˈbaɪfərkeɪt/]
to divide into two branches or parts
two hikers stand at a wooden trail marker where a single dirt path clearly splits into two different directions. One hiker points toward the left path while the other gestures toward the right path. The original trail approaches from the bottom of the frame as one unified route. At the junction point, the path definitively separates into two distinct trails that curve away in opposite directions through the trees. The hikers look at each other as they realize they must choose between the two branching options. a single path dividing into two branches or parts
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Medieval Latin bifurcatus, meaning 'having two forks or prongs.' The word literally describes something that splits into two branches like a fork.
Breakdown
bi- (two) + furc- (fork) + -ate (verb suffix meaning 'to make' or 'to cause')
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My life seemed to bifurcate after college - half wanting to travel, half wanting to settle down.”
“His mustache bifurcated so perfectly that people joked he used a ruler to groom it.”
“The hiking trail bifurcates here - left leads to the waterfall, right to the summit.”
“His career bifurcated when he couldn't decide between being a chef or a comedian, so he became both.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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