ScienceJuly 13, 2026
bifurcation
/ˌbaɪfərˈkeɪʃən/
Definition
The act of dividing or splitting into two branches or parts.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'bifurcus,' meaning 'two-forked,' which combines 'bi-' (two) and 'furca' (fork). It entered English in the early 17th century to describe things that branch out into two directions.
In the news
The term appears in the article as part of a post title regarding a 'new global river map' that now accounts for river bifurcations. It is used here to describe the specific geographic points where a single river channel splits into two separate paths.
A New Habitat at the Bottom of the Ocean Is Waiting for Its First Aquanauts
Read the full article ↗ZME Science