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Looking for a verb that means division into multiple branches

English Language & Usage Asked by mo adib on August 12, 2021

I am looking for a verb that describes division into multiple branches. The context is an academic report that describes a graph that contains four curves over the range of -3 to 3. Over half the range all curves are identical, but starting from 0, each curves follow a different trend.
I know that bifurcation describes a similar situation with two curves.

2 Answers

There's the simple intransitive multi-word verb fan out.

  • The graphs fanned out beyond x = 1·6

fan out (from some place)

to spread outward from a particular area.

  • The paths seem to fan out from the wide trail that starts at the house.

[McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002]

Diverge is perhaps a little more formal, but does not really generate the same image.

A few have felt the need to introduce 'polyfurcate', but thankfully dictionaries have ignored this.

Correct answer by Edwin Ashworth on August 12, 2021

One option would be the word fork

a division into branches or the place where something divides into branches

This can also be used as a verb, so you could say

Over half the range all curves are identical, but starting from 0, each curve forks.

Answered by cigien on August 12, 2021

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