Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Shaped like or resembling forceps.
from The Century Dictionary.
- In zoology, forceps-like; formed like a forceps; forficate; furcate; deeply forked: applied to various parts or organs of animals, as the anal styles of insects, the chelate limbs of crustaceans, the scissor-like tails of birds, etc.
- In botany, having bowed tips which approach each other like those of a forceps. The tips of branches of the alga Ceramium are forcipate.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Like a pair of forceps.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective shaped like a forceps; deeply forked
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
[Latin forceps, forcip-, pincers; see gwher- in Indo-European roots + –ate.]
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Examples
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Fore-intestine: = foregut, q.v. Forficate: = forcipate, q.v. Forks: Trichoptera; forks of veins in apical part of wing, numbered 1, 2, 3, etc.
Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology John. B. Smith
hernesheir commented on the word forcipate
The swallow-tailed kite's tail is forcipate, if not forficate.
February 17, 2011