Divaricate (Verb)
Meaning 1
Branch off; "The road divaricates here".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- The main highway divaricates just outside the city, forming two distinct routes to the coast and the mountains.
- The river's path is about to divaricate, with one tributary flowing into the nearby lake and another joining the ocean further downstream.
- The several main roads from the neighboring town divaricate upon entering the forest, each one taking you to a unique destination.
- The roads at the village's edge divaricate sharply in multiple directions, which could confuse unwary travelers who are new to this part of the country.
- This small path will eventually divaricate into multiple other trails that may overlap each other or lead to a variety of different scenic sites.
Meaning 2
Spread apart; "divaricate one's fingers".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- She slowly began to divaricate her toes, feeling the stretch in her feet as she prepared for yoga.
- To examine the intricate details, the ornithologist carefully divaricated the bird's tiny claws.
- As the tiny delicate fingers of the glassblower divaricated, they perfectly shaped the mouth of the vase.
- When examining X-rays, medical students learn to divaricate the skeletal images on screen to identify fractures.
- By gently divaricating the fragile petals, the botanist successfully identified the rare species of flower.