Word: Fork

Pronunciation

/fɔrk/

Definitions

• Noun:

  • A utensil with a handle and usually three or four prongs used for lifting and holding food while eating, especially solid food. For example: “He picked up a fork to eat his steak.”
  • A tool or agricultural implement with long, often curved tines used for lifting, moving, or pitching hay, straw, or other materials. Example: “The farmer was using a pitchfork to move the hay bales.”
  • In roads or paths, a place where a road splits into two or more branches. Example: “At the fork in the road, take the left path.”
  • In computing, a version of a software project that has been copied and then independently developed. Example: “GitHub allows developers to create forks of open-source projects.”

• Verb:

  • To divide something into separate parts, typically by inserting a fork or similar tool. Example: “She forked the salad onto her plate.”
  • To branch off in different directions, like a road or river. Example: “The river forks just beyond the bridge.”
  • In computing, to create a fork (a copy) of a software project for independent development. Example: “He decided to fork the codebase to add new features.”

Phrases

• “Take the fork in the road” meaning to make a decision between two or more alternatives.
• “Fork over” which is informal for giving something, usually money, unwillingly or under pressure. Example: “He finally forked over the cash.”
• “To fork out” which means to pay or give something, often reluctantly or a large amount. Example: “They had to fork out a lot of money for the repairs.”

Example Sentences

• Noun: “She set the table with knives, forks, and spoons.”
• Verb: “She forked the noodles neatly onto her plate.”
• Computing: “The developer forked the original repository to work on his own version of the app.”

Synonyms

• As a Noun:

  • Spoon
  • Knife
  • Utensil
  • Pitchfork
  • Tine

• As a Verb:

  • Split
  • Divide
  • Branch
  • Separate
  • Diverge (in the context of branching)

• In Computing:

  • Clone
  • Branch (as a verb)
  • Duplicate
  • Derive