bifurcation

Etymology

From bifurcate + -ion.

noun

1. (biology) A division into two branches.
2. (by extension) Any place where one thing divides into two.
3. The act of bifurcating; branching or dividing in two.
4. Either of the forks or other branches resultant from such a division.
5. (geography) A place where two roads, tributaries etc. part or meet.
6. (nautical) The point where a channel divides when proceeding from seaward.
7. (mathematics) The change in the qualitative or topological structure of a given family as described by bifurcation theory.
8. (computer science) A command that executes one block or other of commands depending on the result of a condition.