Fork is a utensil with a handle and several thin, pointed prongs (usually four) used for picking up and eating food. You use a fork to spear pieces of meat, twirl spaghetti, or hold food steady while cutting it with a knife.

Forks weren't always common. In medieval Europe, many people ate with their hands or used knives and spoons. Forks became popular in Italy during the Renaissance and gradually spread across Europe. Today they're standard tableware in much of the world, though many cultures prefer chopsticks or eating with hands.

The word also describes anything that splits into two or more branches. A river might fork into separate streams, or a road might fork where drivers must choose which path to take. When you're hiking and reach a fork in the trail, you need to decide which direction to go. In chess, a fork is a clever move where one piece attacks two enemy pieces at once, forcing your opponent into a difficult choice.

When you fork over money, you're handing it over (often reluctantly).