I. ˈfȯ(ə)rk, ˈfȯ(ə)k noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English forke, from Old English & Old North French; Old English force, forca, from Latin furca; Old North French forque, from Latin furca; perhaps akin to Lithuanian žirklės scissors
1.
a. : an instrument or implement consisting of a handle with a shank terminating in two or more prongs used for piercing, holding, taking up, pitching, or digging something
b. : a small instrument of this description for use in manipulating food especially in serving and eating — see dessert fork , dinner fork , oyster fork , salad fork
c. : any of various pronged grappling devices often with automatic trip arrangements that are used in conjunction with a tackle for handling loose bulky material (as hay or straw)
d. : forklift
2. : a forked part, tool, or piece of equipment (as a tuning fork): as
a. obsolete : gallows 1a
b. : a barbed point (as of an arrow)
c. : the lower part of the human body where the legs diverge from the trunk usually including the legs
d. : crutch 4a
e. : the end of the pallet lever of a lever-escapement watch that consists of a slot, two horns, and a guard finger and that imparts an impulse to the balance roller
f. : the front part of a saddletree
g. : filling fork
h. : a long iron or steel rod with a forked end used in glass manufacturing or carrying finished articles to the lehr
i. : a forked electrical fitting for holding an insulator
j. : a 2-pronged support (as for the axle of a wheel or caster)
the front fork of a bicycle
— see bicycle illustration
3.
a. : a division into branches or the place where something divides into branches
came to a fork in the road
the fork of a fish's tail
pruning should eliminate weak forks at which a tree may later split
b. : a place where two or more streams flow together to form a larger waterway : confluence ; often : an area of land or a settlement bounded by or adjoining such a fork — often used in plural and in place names
stopped for the night at Miller's Forks
4.
a. : one of the branches into which something forks
take the left fork at the crossroads
b. : an alternative or choice
after certain basic training the student specializes in one of two forks
5.
a. : an attack by one chess piece (as a pawn or knight) on two pieces simultaneously
b. : tenace
6. : a change in elevation of artillery capable of producing a change in the range equal to four range probable errors
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English forken, from forke, n.
intransitive verb
1. : to divide into two or more branches
just over the hill the road forks
2. of lightning : to play in zigzag or forked streaks
3.
a. : to use a fork
he could fork all day against any two men in the crew
b. : to make a turn into or travel a fork
the car forked to the left
transitive verb
1. : to give the form of a fork to : cause to be forked
forking her fingers
2. : to raise or pitch (as hay or earth) with a fork
forked down a manger of hay
3. : to attack (two chessmen) simultaneously (as with a knight or pawn)
4. chiefly West : to mount (a horse) especially with a quick swing
he jumped out of the buggy, forked his horse, and took after her — J.F.Dobie
5. : to pay or contribute — used with over, out, or sometimes up
he had to fork over $5000 to keep the matter quiet
not everybody can afford to fork out a premium to get a new car
Synonyms: see branch