Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Fork
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
The region of my heart.
fork
invadeThe region of my heart.
Shakespeare
A thunderbolt with three
forks
. Addison.
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 road5.
The gibbet.
[Obs.]
Bp. Butler.
Fork beam
(Shipbuilding)
, a half beam to support a deck, where hatchways occur.
– Fork chuck
(Wood Turning)
, a lathe center having two prongs for driving the work.
– Fork head
. (a)
The barbed head of an arrow.
(b)
The forked end of a rod which forms part of a knuckle joint.
– In fork
. (Mining)
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.
Ure.
– The forks of a river
or The forks of a road
the branches into which it divides, or which come together to form it; the place where separation or union takes place.
Fork
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Forked
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Forking
.] 1.
To shoot into blades, as corn.
The corn beginneth to
fork
. Mortimer.
2.
To divide into two or more branches;
as, a road, a tree, or a stream
. forks
Fork
,Verb.
T.
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.
To fork over
To fork out
to hand or pay over, as money; to
cough up
. [Slang]
G. Eliot.
Webster 1828 Edition
Fork
FORK
,Noun.
1.
an instrument consisting of a handle, and a blade of metal, divided into two or more points or prongs, used for lifting or pitching any thing; as a tablefork for feeding; a pitchfork; a dungfork, &c. forks are also made of ivory, wood or other material.2.
A point; as a thunderbolt with three forks. Shakespeare uses it for the point of an arrow.3.
Forks, in the plural, the point where a road parts into two; and the point where a river divides, or rather where two rivers meet and unite in one stream. Each branch is called a fork.FORK
,Verb.
I.
1.
To shoot into blades, as corn.2.
to divide into two; as, a road forks.FORK
, v.t.1.
to raise or pitch with a fork, as hay.2.
To dig and break ground with a fork.3.
To make sharp; to point.