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Glite Dictionary
forcipate

forcipate

9.9
Shaped like two small curved parts used to hold things
  • adjective
  • Specialized
translation icon : forcipado
  • The leaves of the plant are forcipate at the tips.

Examples

  • The insect's forcipate mandibles are adapted for grasping prey.

  • The fossil displays a forcipate structure, indicating it was once part of a predatory animal.

  • Some leaves have a distinct forcipate appearance, almost as if pinched at the tip.

  • Is that flower forcipate or just shaped that way?

  • The insect's forcipate mandibles are adapted for grasping prey.

  • Some leaves have a distinct forcipate appearance, almost as if pinched at the tip.

  • The fossil displays a forcipate structure, indicating it was once part of a predatory animal.

Synonyms

forked
vsforcipate
1 4.2

Dividing into two or more branches, like a road that splits

is more deeply cut and resembles forceps not just a simple split
forficate
vsforcipate
  • Specialized
9.9

Shaped like a fork with two thin branches

is more deeply split and resembles forceps rather than just two branches
furcal
vsforcipate
  • Specialized
9.9

Having a forked or branched shape in a body part

is deeper and shaped like forceps rather than general branching
forklike
vsforcipate
4.4

A thing with parts that split into two or more branches

is more strongly divided and resembles forceps rather than a mere likeness

How Forked

forcipate
  • Specialized
9.9
forked
1 4.2
cleft
12 6.3

Surface Forms

forcipate positive

Morphology

forcipate = forceps (semi-transparent) = forcip + ate

The adjective is formed by a suffix '-ate' meaning 'having' applied to a forceps-related base, but 'forcip-' is a specialized combining form rather than a standalone English word, so learners may not readily infer the connection.

Etymology

Forcipate comes from the same idea as forceps, which are 'tongs' or 'pincers' used to hold things. So something described as 'forcipate' looks like a small pair of tongs or a forked part that can grasp, which explains its use for leaves, mandibles, or other deep forks.