fork

[ fawrk ]

/ fɔrk /

noun

an instrument having two or more prongs or tines, for holding, lifting, etc., as an implement for handling food or any of various agricultural tools.

something resembling or suggesting this in form.

tuning fork.

Machinery. yoke¹(def 9).

a division into branches.

the point or part at which a thing, as a river or a road, divides into branches: Bear left at the fork in the road.

either of the branches into which a thing divides.

Horology. (in a lever escapement) the forked end of the lever engaging with the ruby pin.

a principal tributary of a river.

the support of the front wheel axles of a bicycle or motorcycle, having the shape of a two-pronged fork.

the barbed head of an arrow.

verb (used with object)

to pierce, raise, pitch, dig, etc., with a fork.

to make into the form of a fork.

Chess. to maneuver so as to place (two opponent's pieces) under simultaneous attack by the same piece.

Digital Technology to copy (the source code) from a piece of software and develop a new version independently, with the result of producing two unique pieces of software.

verb (used without object)

to divide into branches: Turn left where the road forks.

to turn as indicated at a fork in a road, path, etc.: Fork left and continue to the top of the hill.

Verb Phrases

fork over/out/up, Informal. to hand over; deliver; pay: Fork over the money you owe me!

Origin of fork

before 1000; Middle English forke, Old English forca < Latin furca fork, gallows, yoke

OTHER WORDS FROM fork

fork·less, adjective fork·like, adjective un·fork, verb (used with object)

Words nearby fork

forgot, forgotten, forgotten man, forint, forjudge, fork, fork luncheon, fork out, fork over, fork-lift truck, fork-tender

British Dictionary definitions for fork over

fork

/ (fɔːk) /

noun

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

an agricultural tool consisting of a handle and three or four metal prongs, used for lifting, digging, etc

a pronged part of any machine, device, etc

(of a road, river, etc)

a division into two or more branches
the point where the division begins
such a branch

mainly US the main tributary of a river

chess a position in which two pieces are forked

verb

(tr) to pick up, dig, etc, with a fork

(tr) chess to place (two enemy pieces) under attack with one of one's own pieces, esp a knight

(tr) to make into the shape of a fork

(intr) to be divided into two or more branches

to take one or other branch at a fork in a road, river, etc

Derived forms of fork

forkful, noun

Word Origin for fork

Old English forca, from Latin furca

Idioms and Phrases with fork over

fork over

Also, fork out or up. Hand over, pay up. For example, It's time you forked over what you owe, or He forked out a hundred for that meal, or Fork up or we'll sue. [Slang; early 1800s]

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

fork

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Verb Phrases

Origin of fork

OTHER WORDS FROM fork

Words nearby fork

British Dictionary definitions for fork over

noun

verb

Derived forms of fork

Word Origin for fork

Idioms and Phrases with fork over

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

fork

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Verb Phrases

Origin of fork

OTHER WORDS FROM fork

Words nearby fork

Words related to fork over

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for fork over

noun

verb

Derived forms of fork

Word Origin for fork

Idioms and Phrases with fork over

British Dictionary definitions for fork over