1. (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 slightly curved; -- used from piercing, holding, taking up, or pitching anything.

2. (n.) Anything furcated or like a fork in shape, or furcated at the extremity; as, a tuning fork.

3. (n.) 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.

4. (n.) 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. (n.) The gibbet.

6. (v. i.) To shoot into blades, as corn.

7. (v. i.) To divide into two or more branches; as, a road, a tree, or a stream forks.

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