English

Noun

bifurcation ‎(plural bifurcations)

1. (biology) A division into two branches.
2. (by extension) Any place where one thing divides into two.
3. The act of bifurcating; branching or dividing in two.
4. Either of the forks or other branches resultant from such a division.
5. (geography) A place where two roads, tributaries etc. part or meet.
6. (nautical) The point where a channel divides when proceeding from seaward.
7. (mathematics) The change in the qualitative or topological structure of a given family as decribed by bifurcation theory.
8. (computer science) A command that executes one block or other of commands depending on the result of a condition.

Synonyms

• (division into two branches): branched, branching, forked, forking

Related terms

• bifurcate
• trifurcation
• quadfurcation

Derived terms

• bifurcation theory

Translations

French

Etymology

From bifurcate 'to divide into branches', from medieval Latin bifurcatus, the past participle of bifurcare, from Latin bifurcus 'two-spronged', itself from bi- + furca 'fork'

Noun

bifurcation f ‎(plural bifurcations)

1. A bifurcation, where two roads etc. part or meet

Related terms

• bifurquer (verb)