divaricate

[ verb dahy-var-i-keyt, di-; adjective dahy-var-uh-kit, -keyt, di- ]
/ verb daɪˈvær ɪˌkeɪt, dɪ-; adjective daɪˈvær ə kɪt, -ˌkeɪt, dɪ- /

verb (used without object), di·var·i·cat·ed, di·var·i·cat·ing.

to spread apart; branch; diverge.
Botany, Zoology. to branch at a wide angle.

adjective

spread apart; widely divergent.
Botany, Zoology. branching at a wide angle.

Origin of divaricate

1615–25; < Latin dīvāricātus (past participle of dīvāricāre), equivalent to dī di-2 + vāric- (base of vāricāre to straddle; see prevaricate) + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM divaricate

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

Words nearby divaricate

divagate, divalent, divali, divalproex sodium, divan, divaricate, divarication, divaricator, dive, dive bomber, dive brake

British Dictionary definitions for divaricator (1 of 2)

divaricator
/ (daɪˈværɪˌkeɪtə) /

noun

zoology a muscle in brachiopods that controls the opening of the shell

British Dictionary definitions for divaricator (2 of 2)

divaricate

verb (daɪˈværɪˌkeɪt)

(intr) (esp of branches) to diverge at a wide angle

adjective (daɪˈværɪkɪt, -ˌkeɪt)

branching widely; forked

Derived forms of divaricate

divaricately, adverb divaricatingly, adverb divarication, noun

Word Origin for divaricate

C17: from Latin dīvāricāre to stretch apart, from di- ² + vāricāre to stand astride