1. Noun

   the public; the street (e.g. "word on the street")

   ちまたではインターネットなるものがはやっています。

2. street; district; quarters

3. location (e.g. of a battle); scene (e.g. of carnage)

4. divide (e.g. between life and death)

5. fork (in a road); crossroads

   orig. meaning

Also written 岐【ちまた】chimata、衢【ちまた】chimata