Fork /(fôrk)/

Fork

n.
  1. An instrument consisting of a handle with a shank terminating in two or more prongs or tines, which are usually of metal, parallel and slightly curved; -- used for piercing, holding, taking up, or pitching anything.
  2. Anything furcate or like a fork in shape, or furcate at the extremity; as, a tuning fork.
  3. One of the parts into which anything is furcated or divided; a prong; a branch of a stream, a road, etc.; a barbed point, as of an arrow.
    Let it fall . . . though the fork invade The region of my heart.
    A thunderbolt with three forks.
  4. The place where a division or a union occurs; the angle or opening between two branches or limbs; as, the fork of a river, a tree, or a road.
  5. The gibbet. [Obs.]

Phrases & Compounds
Fork beam
a half beam to support a deck, where hatchways occur.
Fork chuck
a lathe center having two prongs for driving the work.
Fork head
The barbed head of an arrow.
In fork
A mine is said to be in fork, or an engine to “have the water in fork,” when all the water is drawn out of the mine.
The forks of a river
the branches into which it divides, or which come together to form it; the place where separation or union takes place.

Fork

v. i.

imp. & p. p. Forked; p. pr. & vb. n. Forking

  1. To shoot into blades, as corn.
    The corn beginneth to fork.
  2. To divide into two or more branches; as, a road, a tree, or a stream forks.

Fork

v. t.
  1. To raise, or pitch with a fork, as hay; to dig or turn over with a fork, as the soil.
    Forking the sheaves on the high-laden cart.
    — Prof. Wilson.

Phrases & Compounds
To fork over
to hand or pay over, as money; to cough up.