释义 |
fork 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 |