bifurcation

Noun

bifurcation (countable and uncountable, plural bifurcations)

1. A division into two branches.

   Synonyms:

   branched, branching, forked, forking

2. (broadly) Any place where one thing divides into two.
3. The act of bifurcating; branching or dividing in two.
   • “Get away from me, freak.” “Actually, my designation is Logic-y. I take issue with the pejorative when I am simply a product of your self-inflicted bifurcation.”2023 October 12, Edgar Momplaisir, “A Few Badgeys More” (15:59 from the start), in Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 4, episode 7, spoken by Logic-y (Jack McBrayer)
4. Either of the forks or other branches resultant from such a division.
5. A place where two roads, tributaries etc. part or meet.
6. The point where a channel divides when proceeding from seaward.
7. The change in the qualitative or topological structure of a given family as described by bifurcation theory.
8. A command that executes one block or other of commands depending on the result of a condition.