Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

antefurca

noun
an·​te·​fur·​ca
plural antefurcae

Definition of antefurca

: a forked chitinous process projecting into the thoracic cavity from the sternal wall of the anterior thoracic segment of certain insects

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Other Words from antefurca

antefurcal \ ¦⸗⸗¦-​ \ adjective

First Known Use of antefurca

1826, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for antefurca

New Latin, from ante- + furca

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about antefurca

Statistics for antefurca

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for antefurca

The first known use of antefurca was in 1826

See more words from the same year

Comments on antefurca

What made you want to look up antefurca? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

flounce

Listen to the pronounciation of flounce

to move with exaggerated bouncy motions

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Finance Words Quiz

  • a-piggy-bank
  • The etymology of mortgage is related most closely to which two words?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games