branch

¹ American  

[branch, brahnch] / bræntʃ, brɑntʃ /

noun

1. a division or subdivision of the stem or axis of a tree, shrub, or other plant.

   Synonyms:

   shoot, offshoot

2. a limb, offshoot, or ramification of any main stem.

   the branches of a deer's antlers.

3. any member or part of a body or system; a section or subdivision.

   the various branches of learning.

4. a local operating division of a business, library, or the like.

5. a line of family descent stemming from a particular ancestor, as distinguished from some other line or lines from the same stock; a division of a family.

6. a tributary stream or any stream that is not a large river or a bayou.

7. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. branch water.

8. Linguistics. (in the classification of related languages within a family) a category of a lower order than a subfamily and of a higher order than a subbranch or a group, as the Germanic branch of Indo-European.

9. Computers. a point in a computer program where the computer selects one of two or more instructions to execute, according to some criterion.

10. Nautical. a warrant or license permitting a pilot to navigate in certain waters.

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verb (used without object)

1. to put forth branches; spread in branches.

2. to divide into separate parts or subdivisions; diverge.

   The main road branches off to the left.

   Synonyms:

   subdivide, ramify

3. to expand or extend, as business activities.

   The bank has plans to branch throughout the state.

verb (used with object)

1. to divide into branches or sections.

2. to adorn with needlework; decorate with embroidery, as in textile fabrics.

verb phrase

1. branch out to expand or extend, as business activities, pursuits, interests, etc..

   The business is branching out into computers.

-branch ² American  

1. a combining form for forming nouns and adjectives that denote gill formations or animals having gill formations.

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branch ¹ British  

/ brɑːntʃ /

noun

1. a secondary woody stem arising from the trunk or bough of a tree or the main stem of a shrub

2. a subdivision of the stem or root of any other plant

3. an offshoot or secondary part

   a branch of a deer's antlers

4. 1. a subdivision or subsidiary section of something larger or more complex

      branches of learning

      branch of the family

   2. ( as modifier )

      a branch office

5. any small stream

6. maths a section of a curve separated from the rest of the curve by discontinuities or special points

7. Also called: jump.  computing a departure from the normal sequence of programmed instructions into a separate program area

8. an alternative route in an atomic or nuclear decay series

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verb

1. (intr) (of a tree or other plant) to produce or possess branches

2. (of stems, roots, etc) to grow and diverge (from another part)

3. to divide or be divided into subsidiaries or offshoots

4. to diverge from the main way, road, topic, etc

branch- ² British  

combining form

1. (in zoology) indicating gills

   lamellibranch

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branch Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing branch

• olive branch
• root and branch

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Usage

What is a basic definition of branch? A branch is a protruding part of a tree, something that juts out from a main part, or a division of a group or organization. The word branch has many other senses as a noun and a verb.For most trees, underground roots connect to the thick trunk that extends toward the sky. Jutting out of the trunk are branches, smaller limbs of the tree. Main branches, also called boughs, have smaller extensions with leaves on them. These are also called branches, but more often called twigs.

• Used in a sentence: I watched my cat climb the branches of the oak tree. 

Branch also refers to similar offshoots from objects that aren’t trees.

• Used in a sentence: The rope got tangled in the branches of the buck’s antlers. 

In a more figurative sense, branch is used to mean a division of a main group or organization.

• Real-life examples: The Army, Navy, and Air Force are three major branches of the United States military. Botany, zoology, and microbiology are three major branches of biology.
• Used in a sentence: We learned in history class that the government is divided into three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial.

Related Words

Branch, bough, limb refer to divisions of a tree. Branch is general, meaning either a large or a small division. Bough refers only to the larger branches: a bough loaded with apples. A limb is a large primary division of a tree trunk or of a bough: to climb out on a limb.

Other Word Forms

• branchless adjective
• branchlike adjective
• branchy adjective
• interbranch adjective
• multibranched adjective
• outbranch verb (used with object)
• unbranched adjective
• unbranching adjective
• underbranch noun
• well-branched adjective

Etymology

Origin of branch¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bra(u)nche, from Anglo-French; Old French branche, from Late Latin branca “paw,” of uncertain origin

Origin of -branch²

< French -branche, New Latin -branchia, from Latin branchiae “gills” ( branchia ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

But with an estimated 2,000 members from all branches of the armed forces as well as the national guard, the national police and the secret police, it’s as big as a brigade.

From The Wall Street Journal

The mission was led by elite special operations forces and was supported by every branch of the U.S. military, as well as intelligence and law-enforcement agencies, officials said.

From The Wall Street Journal

It has been shrinking its brick-and-mortar retail footprint for years to lower costs and has reportedly shut dozens of branches in California.

From Los Angeles Times

The sanctions hit a number of officials, including commanders in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful branch in Iran’s military, and several senior police officials.

From The Wall Street Journal

The bank came under scrutiny in the U.S. and Europe amid a scandal related to alleged money-laundering that hit its Estonian branch and led financial regulators to launch probes into its risk management and controls.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• arm
• bureau
• chapter
• division
• member
• office
• section
• subsidiary
• wing