bifurcation

== English == === Etymology === From bifurcate +‎ -ion. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˌbaɪfəˈkeɪʃən/ (US) enPR: bī'fər-kāʹshən, IPA(key): /ˌbaɪfɚˈkeɪʃən/ Rhymes: -eɪʃən === Noun === bifurcation (countable and uncountable, plural bifurcations) (biology) A division into two branches. (by extension) Any place where one thing divides into two. The act of bifurcating; branching or dividing in two. Either of the forks or other branches resultant from such a division. (geography) A place where two roads, tributaries etc. part or meet. (nautical) The point where a channel divides when proceeding from seaward. (mathematics) The change in the qualitative or topological structure of a given family as described by bifurcation theory. (computer science) A command that executes one block or other of commands depending on the result of a condition. ==== Synonyms ==== (division into two branches): branched, branching, forked, forking ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== bifurcate trifurcation quadfurcation ==== Translations ==== == French == === Etymology === From bifurquer +‎ -tion, Medieval Latin bifurcus (“two-pronged”). === Pronunciation === === Noun === bifurcation f (plural bifurcations) a bifurcation, where two roads etc. part or meet ==== Related terms ==== bifurquer (verb) === Further reading === “bifurcation”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012