Skip to main content
to bifurcate

to bifurcate

8 8.6
To split into two parts or branches, like a river
  • verb
  • /ˈbaɪfərˌkeɪt/
  • Formal
translation icon : bifurcar
  • Research supports a bifurcated categorization of delinquent youth based upon the onset and maintenance of antisocial behavior.
  • bifurcated review
  • bifurcated review project
  • bifurcated garments

The world's going to bifurcate and there will be people that adopt the algorithms and there will be people that flat reject it, plain and simple.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Racial segregation has bifurcated liberal and Republican dimensions of citizenship in the Black experience.

    Academic text (1998)
  • It's like everything is super intentionally integrated so that we're working on the whole child and not bifurcating everything that they do.

  • But I start thinking about, OK, why do we bifurcate in the left and right?

  • And they shortly bifurcate, though the bonobos, they continue to share throughout the rest of their lives.

  • That caused some of the PCI Express slots to not bifurcate or split properly.

  • Journalism began to express and reflect a bifurcated public sphere as individuals joined politics through parties and the press.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The world's going to bifurcate and there will be people that adopt the algorithms and there will be people that flat reject it, plain and simple.

  • Many Jews solve the situation by creating a bifurcated system, eating kosher at home but non-kosher outside the home.

    Academic text (1999)
  • In that passage, Frankfurter signaled his tacit acceptance of the bifurcated review project while apparently protesting against it.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The path will bifurcate into two trails, one leading to the beach and the other to the mountain.

Synonyms

to divide
vsto bifurcate
680 1.1

To split something into parts or groups

limits this action to a clear two-part branching outcome
to split
vsto bifurcate
513 1.3

To break something into two or more parts

emphasizes a planned two-branch division rather than any breaking
to separate
vsto bifurcate
297 1.9

To break into parts or pieces

refers specifically to a division into exactly two branches
to part
vsto bifurcate
241 2.9

To separate and move in different directions after being together

describes a deliberate split into two parts rather than parting ways
to branch
vsto bifurcate
49 2.7

To split into two or more parts

describes a single split into two main branches rather than many
to split up
vsto bifurcate
47 2.6

To divide something into smaller parts

describes a clear two-part branching rather than casual separation
to fork
vsto bifurcate
13 4.6

To divide into two or more branches

focuses on making exactly two branches rather than many directions
to bisect
vsto bifurcate
5 5.1

Divide something into two equal parts, usually by a straight line or cut

means a two-way split that need not produce equal halves
to dissever
vsto bifurcate
  • Formal
1 9.9

To cut or separate something into parts, often by breaking it

means a neat two-way division rather than a violent breakup
to fission
vsto bifurcate
1 7.0

To split into two or more parts, often in science

is a general two branch split used broadly beyond scientific contexts
to ramify
vsto bifurcate
  • Specialized
1 8.4

To spread out into many branches like a tree or its roots

is a simple two way split rather than extensive branching
to furcate
vsto bifurcate
  • Specialized
9.9

To divide into branches, for example a road or river

is specifically about splitting into two parts
to dispart
vsto bifurcate
  • Archaic
9.5

To divide something into separate parts

narrows that action to creating two distinct branches
to divaricate
vsto bifurcate
  • Specialized
9.9

To spread apart from a common point like fingers or branches

refers specifically to a division into two branches not general spreading
to discerp
vsto bifurcate
  • Archaic
9.9

To tear something into separate parts, usually by force

implies a controlled division into two branches rather than violent tearing

How Branched

to ramify
  • Specialized
1 8.4
to bifurcate
  • Formal
8 8.6
to split
513 1.3

Surface Forms

bifurcate infinitive
bifurcated past
bifurcated past participle
bifurcating present participle
bifurcates third person singular

Morphology

bifurcate = furcate (semi-transparent) = bi + furcate

The verb is transparently formed by adding 'bi-' to 'furcate', but 'furcate' is a relatively rare base that reduces transparency for average learners.

Etymology

Bifurcate comes from the Latin parts bi- 'two' and furca 'fork', and it originally meant 'to make a fork'. So, to bifurcate is to split or divide into two branches.