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 Technologyto 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 / upInformal. 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
forkless,adjectiveforklike,adjectiveun·fork,verb (used with object)
Words nearby fork
forgotten man, for heaven's sake, for-instance, forint, forjudge, fork, forkball, forked, forked chain, forked lightning, for keeps
On the eastern edge of the southern fork of Long Island, where most obvious signs of humans disappear, sand dunes sweep into the horizon, gradually rising up to 80 ft high.
We didn’t track hurricanes hundreds of years ago—but trees did|Greta Moran|October 16, 2020|Popular Science
This dinnerware dish set features a colorful truck pattern, along with a matching fork and spoon.
Soon, you reach a fork in the road and another pair of locals standing guard, waiting for you to arrive.
Can you expose the truth in these two riddles?|Claire Maldarelli|August 26, 2020|Popular Science
For an article in the Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology, the author must fork over $650 for “handling.”
No, Stem Cells Don't Cause Autism|Kent Sepkowitz|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In pot with boiling water, cook potatoes for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.
Epic Meal Empire’s Meat Monstrosities: From the Bacon Spider to the Cinnabattleship|Harley Morenstein|July 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Other times, if you take me out to a good restaurant, I can eat with a fork and keep my elbows off the table.
Anthony Bourdain Will ‘Try Anything Once’—but He Isn’t Calling in Sick|Lloyd Grove|April 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In medium size bowl, using a fork, blend together eggs, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.
Cat Cora’s Valentine’s Day Menu for Single People|Cat Cora|February 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By Barbara Brody for Life by DailyBurn Sometimes the best medicine can be found at the end of a fork.
6 Healthy Foods to Fight the Flu, Beat Stress and More|DailyBurn|February 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I went back into the corn, found the river, followed it back a long way and mounted into the fork of a low tree.
The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce|Ambrose Bierce
Lying is like Nature, you may expel her with a fork, but she will always come back again.
The Note-Books of Samuel Butler|Samuel Butler
With five thousand infantry and one hundred and eighty cavalry he has advanced to a ford beyond the fork of Chateauguay.
Canada: the Empire of the North|Agnes C. Laut
He jammed his fork into the hay and scrambled down the ladder to the barn floor.
The Duck-footed Hound|James Arthur Kjelgaard
Eating with a fork, he thought odd, and not nearly as convenient as a knife.
Tom, The Bootblack|Horatio Alger
British Dictionary definitions for fork
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
mainlyUSthe main tributary of a river
chessa position in which two pieces are forked
verb
(tr)to pick up, dig, etc, with a fork
(tr)chessto 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