fork
/fɔːk/ (bre, ipa) · /fɔːrk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfȯrk/ (ame, mw)
fork — noun
- forksingular
- forksplural
1. a small item used for eating meals, consisting of a handle attached to several t
a small item used for eating meals, consisting of a handle attached to several thin sharp points that hold pieces of food
Yumi put down her fork and picked up the spoon to eat her soup.
collocation: put down her fork / pick up her fork
Luca set the table with a fork and a knife for each guest.
collocation: set the table with a fork
This salad fork is smaller than the dinner fork next to the plate.
Talia washed her fork and placed it back in the kitchen drawer.
文法句型
fork + handle + prongs
用法筆記
In Western table settings, the fork is usually held in the left hand while cutting food with a knife in the right hand. Common types include the dinner fork, salad fork, and dessert fork.
常見錯誤
2. a gardening implement that has a straight long handle and a set of strong pointe
a gardening implement that has a straight long handle and a set of strong pointed spikes at the bottom, used for digging or turning over earth, lifting crops, or moving straw
Femi used a garden fork to turn over the soil before planting vegetables.
compound noun: garden fork
Gabriela lifted the dry leaves with a pitchfork and carried them to the compost bin.
compound noun: pitchfork
The old wooden handle of the fork broke while Christopher was digging up the potatoes.
Liam used a small hand fork to remove weeds from between the flower stems.
- pitchfork
a type of garden fork with long curved prongs for lifting hay
- spading fork
a garden fork with flat prongs for digging compacted soil
文法句型
garden fork
pitchfork
用法筆記
A garden fork has thicker, stronger prongs than an eating fork. A pitchfork has longer, curved prongs and is used for lifting hay or straw.
3. either of the two separate paths that a road, river, or similar feature can spli
either of the two separate paths that a road, river, or similar feature can split into at a certain point
At the fork in the road, Yumi turned left toward the village instead of right.
idiom: fork in the road (literal)
Near the border, the river splits into two forks; one runs through the forest.
collocation: the left fork / right fork
Luca stopped at the fork and checked the map to see which way to go.
Hikers should take the northern fork for an easier climb up the mountain.
- junction
a place where roads come together, rather than split apart
文法句型
fork in the road
fork of the river
at the fork
用法筆記
Often used in the common expression 'fork in the road.' This can be literal (an actual road division) or figurative (a point where a person must make an important choice).
常見錯誤
4. an object or component whose form has at least two long sections spreading outwa
an object or component whose form has at least two long sections spreading outward from the middle, resembling a dinner fork
The musician struck the tuning fork against the table and listened to its clear note.
compound noun: tuning fork
A bright fork of lightning split the dark sky above the town during the storm.
compound noun: fork of lightning
Faisal adjusted the bicycle fork to make sure it was straight before the race.
The metal sculpture had a fork shape with three long arms pointing outward.
- prong
one of the pointed parts of a fork or fork-like object
文法句型
tuning fork
fork of lightning
用法筆記
A tuning fork produces a specific musical note when struck and is used to tune instruments. A bicycle fork holds the front wheel. A fork of lightning refers to a zigzag-shaped flash. These are distinct objects that share a Y-shaped form.
fork — verb
- forkpresent simple I / you / we / they
- forks3rd person singular
- forking-ing form
- forkedpast simple
1. used to describe a road, river, path, or similar feature that separates into two
used to describe a road, river, path, or similar feature that separates into two distinct directions
The main road forks about two kilometres ahead, so keep an eye on the signs.
pattern: the road forks; adverb: ahead
The river forks near the old stone bridge, sending one stream toward the lake.
pattern: river forks + near [location]
Élise noticed that the hiking trail forked into three paths just beyond the wooden gate.
The railway line forks after the station, with one branch heading north and another south.
- merge
when two things come together into one
文法句型
road/path/river + forks
fork into [number] branches
用法筆記
This sense is always intransitive — the road itself divides; no one divides it. The subject is typically a road, path, river, or railroad track. Common with 'into' to specify how many branches form.
常見錯誤
2. to turn onto one of the separate branches when a road or path divides in front o
to turn onto one of the separate branches when a road or path divides in front of you
The driver signalled and forked right onto the smaller gravel road leading to the farm.
pattern: fork + direction (right)
Hari forked left at the old church and followed the river south.
pattern: fork + direction + at [landmark] (human agent)
Hamza forked left without checking the map and ended up going the wrong way.
Christopher forked right at the roundabout and headed toward the coast.
- turn off
more general; not specific to a forked division
文法句型
fork left/right
fork off
fork away from
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb sense 1: verb 1 describes the road itself dividing; verb 2 describes a person's action of taking one branch. This sense is less common in everyday speech; most speakers say 'turn left at the fork' instead.
3. to lift, turn over, or move soil, plants, or other material using a garden or pi
to lift, turn over, or move soil, plants, or other material using a garden or pitchfork
Piotr forked the compost into the flower beds to help the roses grow better.
pattern: fork [material] into [place]
Talia forked over the vegetable patch before the first frost of winter.
phrasal verb: fork over (turn soil)
The farmer forked the hay into the barn while his daughter stacked the bales.
Yumi forked out the old plants and prepared the soil for new seeds.
文法句型
fork + soil/earth/hay/leaves
fork + object + over/out/up
用法筆記
Common in gardening contexts. 'Fork over' means to turn soil using a garden fork, which is quicker than turning with a spade. 'Fork out' can mean to remove weeds or lift plants from the ground.