bifurcation

From bifurcate +‎ -ion.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌbaɪfəˈkeɪʃən/

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• (US) enPR: bī'fər-kāʹshən, IPA^(key): /ˌbaɪfɚˈkeɪʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

bifurcation (countable and uncountable, 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 described by bifurcation theory.
8. (computer science) A command that executes one block or other of commands depending on the result of a condition.

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

• bifurcate
• trifurcation
• quadfurcation

From bifurquer +‎ -tion, Medieval Latin bifurcus (“two-spronged”).

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bifurcation f (plural bifurcations)

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

• bifurquer (verb)

• “bifurcation”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.