fork
noun · verb
Simple meaning
Any of several types of pronged tools, as follows.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
fawrkIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈfɔɹk
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
Any of several types of pronged (tined) tools (physical tools), as follows
Any of several types of pronged tools for use on farms, in fields, or in the garden or lawn, such as a smaller hand fork for weeding or a larger one for turning over the soil.
An agricultural tool used for lifting or digging; has a handle and metal prongs
Such a pronged tool having a long straight handle, generally for two-handed use, as used for digging, lifting, mucking, pitching, etc.
Cutlery used for serving and eating food
A utensil with spikes used to put solid food into the mouth, or to hold food down while cutting, or for serving food.
verb
transitivebritish
To kick someone in the crotch.
intransitive
To shoot into blades, as corn does.
Shape like a fork
transitive
To move with a fork (as hay or food).
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate (estimated)
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- General English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: Any of several types of pronged (tined) tools (physical tools), as follows
Used this way, fork is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use fork
- “Please set the table with a knife, fork, and spoon for dinner.”
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A form of lightning that moves rapidly in a zigzag path with one end divided (fork-like).
To surrender someone or something to another.
To surrender someone or something to another.
To surrender someone or something to another.
A fork intended for eating salads.
Pantropical epiphytic or terrestrial whisk fern with usually dull yellow branches and minute leaves.
Related words
Connected by subject or meaning, not by word formation.
A small industrial vehicle with a power operated forked platform in front that can be inserted under loads to lift and move them.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.