fork
(fɔːʳk )
Word forms: forks , forking , forked
1. countable noun A2
A fork is a tool used for eating food which has a row of three or four long metal points at the end.
...knives and forks.
2. verb
If you fork food into your mouth or onto a plate, you put it there using a fork.
Ann forked some fish into her mouth. [V n + into/onto]
He forked an egg onto a piece of bread and folded it into a sandwich. [V n + into/onto]
3. countable noun
A garden fork is a tool used for breaking up soil which has a row of three or four long metal points at the end.
4. verb
If you fork something such as manure or hay, you move it from one place to another using a large garden fork.
They started me off in the gardens as a handyman. Digging, forking manure, that kind of thing. [VERB noun]
Farmers cut the hay, fork it on to a cart and then store it in barns. [VERB noun preposition]
5. countable noun
A fork in a road, path, or river is a point at which it divides into two parts and forms a ' Y' shape.
We arrived at a fork in the road. [+ in]
The road divides; you should take the right fork.
...the fork of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers.
6. verb [no cont]
If a road, path, or river forks, it forms a fork.
Beyond the village the road forked. [VERB]
The path dipped down to a sort of cove, and then it forked in two directions. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: branch, part, separate, split
7. verb
If you fork in a particular direction when you are travelling along a road or path, you choose one of the forks in it and travel down it.
Just before the town boundary fork left onto a minor road. [VERB preposition/adverb]
8. See also tuning fork
Phrasal verbs:
fork out
phrasal verb
If you fork out for something, you spend a lot of money on it. [informal]
He will have to fork out for private school fees for Nina. [V P + for/on]
You don't ask people to fork out every time they drive up the motorways. [VERB PARTICLE]
Britons fork out more than a billion pounds a year on toys. [V P n + for/on]
Image of fork
© 24/04/2018, Shutterstock
Collocations:
garden fork plastic fork road forks stick a fork in use a fork
Perhaps if he'd thought to put down his garden fork, he wouldn't have ended up in jail for breaking the restraining order.
Times, Sunday Times
To improve drainage, spike with a garden fork, pushing the tines down at least 15cm (6in), and rock the fork back and forth.
The Sun
You will need to spike all of the affected areas with a garden fork to assist the drainage.
The Sun
Aerate using a garden fork and puncture holes in a grid all over it.
Times, Sunday Times
Wait until a dry, sunny day, then lift the tubers out of the ground with a garden fork.
Times, Sunday Times
It's not an easy question, especially for a swivel-eyed plastic fork with pipe-cleaner arms given about three minutes to find an answer.
Times,Sunday Times
A photo of a poolside glass of rosé with the obligatory inane hashtags - #sundowner #wineoclock - would probably send my plastic fork through my keyboard.
Times, Sunday Times
We took our trays to the very uncomfortable, squirrelly treehouse and found a plastic fork in the special, squirrelly plastic-fork container.
Times, Sunday Times
We ordered it at a sagra (local festival), where it arrived steaming in a flimsy plastic bowl with a plastic fork.
Times, Sunday Times
The snacks are sold packaged in a cardboard jar that contains the meat snacks, the spicy dip sauce, and a plastic fork.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Soon afterwards the road forks.
Times, Sunday Times
An entry road forks to the left from the northbound lane and crosses the southbound lane via an underpass with on/off ramp.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
At this point the road forks into several other minor tunnels dug to house kitchens and an ammunition magazine.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
After 0.2 mi, the road forks - the right fork leads to the central basin, while the left fork leads to the eastern basin.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
By 35, stick a fork in you!
Times, Sunday Times
It's so beautifully presented you won't want to stick a fork in.
The Sun
I have, however, on more than one occasion contemplated sticking a fork in my thigh through sheer desperation and boredom.
Times, Sunday Times
And remember to get a tetanus if you have trodden on something sharp or stuck a fork in your foot.
The Sun
But, rather than spitting out the comment and moving on, she sticks her fork in and starts twirling self-doubt.
Times, Sunday Times
It was essentially a labour-saving alternative to using a fork, whisk or food mixer.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
If you haven't got a whizzer, you can just use a fork to mash the raspberries.
The Sun (2013)
Hull the 200 g strawberries and use a fork to crush them with the caster sugar and 1 tbsp of the elderflower cordial.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Remove the pan from the heat and use a fork to fluff the rice.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
While it is churning, use a fork to mash the remaining strawberries.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Translations:
Chinese: 叉
Japanese: フォーク
- undercover operation
- undercover police
- undercover reporter
- undercover surveillance
- undercurrent
- undercut
- undercut rivals
- undercut the competition
- underdeveloped
- under discussion
- underdog
- underdog status
- underdog story
- underdone
- underemployed
- under escort
- underestimate
- underestimate a challenge
- underestimate an amount
- underestimate an opponent
- underestimate a risk
- underestimate the ability of
- underestimate the capacity
- underestimate the complexity of
- underestimate the degree