bifurcation
nounUK /ˌbaɪfəˈkeɪʃən/ · US /ˌbaɪfɚˈkeɪʃən/
Etymology From bifurcate + -ion.
8 senses
- 1A division into two branches.
- 2Any place where one thing divides into two.
- 3The act of bifurcating; branching or dividing in two.
- 4Either of the forks or other branches resultant from…
- 5A place where two roads, tributaries etc. part or meet.
- 6The point where a channel divides when proceeding from seaward.
- 7The change in the qualitative or topological structure…
- 8A command that executes one block or other of commands…
1
Biology, Natural sciences A division into two branches.
2
Broadly Any place where one thing divides into two.
3
The act of bifurcating; branching or dividing in two.
- “Get away from me, freak.” “Actually, my designation is Logic-y. I take issue with the pejorative when I am simply a product of your self-inflicted bifurcation.”2023 October 12, Edgar Momplaisir, “A Few Badgeys More” (15:59 from the start), in Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 4, episode 7, spoken by Logic-y (Jack McBrayer):
4
Either of the forks or other branches resultant from such a division.
5
Geography, Natural sciences A place where two roads, tributaries etc. part or meet.
7
Mathematics, Sciences The change in the qualitative or topological structure of a given family as described by bifurcation theory.
8
Computer, Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Science, Sciences A command that executes one block or other of commands depending on the result of a condition.
- Derived terms
- bifurcational, bifurcation theory, great bifurcation, postbifurcation, prebifurcation, rebifurcation
- Related terms
- bifurcate, trifurcation, quadfurcation