fork In cutlery or kitchenware, a fork (from 'pitchfork') is a utensil, now usually made of metal, whose long handle terminates in a head that branches into several narrow and often slightly curved tines with which one can spear foods either to h ...

is a utensil for eating and cooking. Fork may also refer to:

Implements

* Fork (road), a type of intersection where a road splits *

Bicycle fork A bicycle fork is the part of a bicycle that holds the front wheel. A fork typically consists of two ''blades'' which are joined at the top by a fork ''crown.'' The crown is often at the front. Most suspension forks have an arch connecting the ...

, the part of a bicycle to which the front wheel is attached *

Garden fork A garden fork, spading fork, or digging fork (in the past also an ''asparagus fork'', the same name as a very different utensil) is a gardening implement, with a handle and a square-shouldered head featuring several (usually four) short, sturdy ...

, a pronged gardening tool designed for digging *

Military fork A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily Weapon, armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable ...

, a pole weapon used between the 15th and 19th centuries *

Motorcycle fork A motorcycle fork connects a motorcycle's front wheel and axle to its motorcycle frame, frame, typically via a yoke, also known as a triple clamp, or triple tree, which consists of an upper yoke joined to a lower yoke via a steering stem, a shaf ...

, the portion of a motorcycle that holds the front wheel *

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

, a tined farming tool used to lift and pitch hay and perform other tasks *

Tuning fork A tuning fork is an acoustic resonator in the form of a two-pronged fork with the prongs ( ''tines'') formed from a U-shaped bar of elastic metal (usually steel). It resonates at a specific constant pitch when set vibrating by striking it ag ...

, a vibrating device used to tune musical instruments * Winnowing fork, a tined farming tool used to separate grain and chaff

Places

* Fork, Iran (disambiguation), several places in Iran * Fork, Maryland, United States, a town * Fork Township (disambiguation), several districts in the United States

Computing

Fork (file system) In a computer file system, a fork is a set of data associated with a file-system object. File systems without forks only allow a single set of data for the contents, while file systems with forks allow multiple such contents. Every non-empty file ...

, a part of a file in certain filesystems *

Fork (software development) In software development, a fork is a codebase that is created by duplicating an existing codebase and, generally, is subsequently modified independently of the original. Software built from a fork initially has identical behavior as software ...

, when a piece of software or other work is split into two branches or variations of development *

Fork (system call) In computing, particularly in the context of the Unix operating system and Unix-like, its workalikes, fork is an operation whereby a Computer process, process creates a copy of itself. It is an interface which is required for compliance with the P ...

, the method whereby a running process creates a new process *

Fork (blockchain) In blockchain, a fork is defined variously as: * "What happens when a blockchain diverges into two potential paths forward", * "A change in protocol", or * A situation that "occurs when two or more blocks have the same block height". Forks are re ...

, a split of the blockchain into two chains or a protocol change * The Fork, an on-line restaurant booking system

Other uses

Fork (chess) In chess, a fork is a tactic in which a piece multiple enemy pieces simultaneously. The attacker usually aims to capture one of the forked pieces. The defender often cannot counter every threat. A fork is most effective when it is , such as whe ...

, a situation in chess where one piece simultaneously attacks two or more opposing pieces * Operation Fork, the invasion of Iceland by the British during World War II * Fork, in the United States a

tributary A tributary, or an ''affluent'', is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream (''main stem'' or ''"parent"''), river, or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries, and the main stem river into which they ...

of a river or other stream

Implements

Places

Computing

Other uses

See also