Fork — Defs

01 n. An instrument consisting of a handle with a shank terminating in two or more prongs or tines, which are usually of metal, parallel and slig…

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 fork invade The region of my heart.” — Shak.

“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 road.
5.
The gibbet.[Obs.]

Phrases & compounds

Fork beam — a half beam to support a deck, where hatchways occur.

Fork chuck — a lathe center having two prongs for driving the work.

Fork head — The barbed head of an arrow.

In fork — 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.

The forks of a river — the branches into which it divides, or which come together to form it; the place where separation or union takes place.

02 v. i. To shoot into blades, as corn.

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.

03 v. t. To raise, or pitch with a fork, as hay; to dig or turn over with a fork, as the soil.

1.
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.

Phrases & compounds

To fork over — to hand or pay over, as money; to cough up.