dichotomous

English

WOTD – 30 January 2008

Etymology

From the Late Latin dichotomos, from Ancient Greek διχότομος (dikhótomos, “cut in half”), from δίχα (díkha, “apart”) + τέμνω (témnō, “I cut”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /daɪˈkɒt.ə.məs/
• (US) IPA^(key): /daɪˈkɑːt.ə.məs/

• Audio (US)

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Adjective

dichotomous (not comparable)

1. Dividing or branching into two pieces.
   • 1992, Marie L. Hicks, Guide to the Liverworts of North Carolina, page 197:

     Genus Riccia L. Plants are thalloid, forming rosettes or loose, dichotomous patches.

Synonyms

• (dividing into two equal parts): bipartite, forked

Related terms

• dichotomously
• dichotomy

Translations

dividing or branching into two pieces

• German: dichotom (de)
• Latin: dichotomos

• Polish: dwudzielny (pl) m, dychotomiczny (pl) m