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• branch
  branch

  noun

  a division or subdivision of the stem or axis of a tree, shrub, or other plant.
• -branch
  -branch

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

  combining form

  (in zoology) indicating gills

branch

¹ American  

[branch, brahnch] / bræntʃ, brɑntʃ /

noun

• branches
  plural

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)

• branches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• branched,
  past participle,  past
• branching
  present participle

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)

• branches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• branched,
  past participle,  past
• branching
  present participle

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.

Synonym Usage

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• branches
  plural

Participles

• branching
  present
• branched
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• branch
  simple
• branches
  simple
• have branched
  perfect
• has branched
  perfect
• am branching
  progressive
• are branching
  progressive
• is branching
  progressive
• have been branching
  perfect progressive
• has been branching
  perfect progressive

Past

• branched
  simple
• had branched
  perfect
• was branching
  progressive
• were branching
  progressive
• had been branching
  perfect progressive

Future

• will branch
  simple
• will have branched
  perfect
• will be branching
  progressive
• will have been branching
  perfect progressive

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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” ( see branchia ( def. ))

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Explanation

A branch can mean the "arm" of a tree, or any other kind of arm––a branch of a bank is a division of the bank. Branch also works as a verb. If you play soccer every day after school and you want to "branch out" athletically, you might consider playing tennis. You might turn onto a little road that branches off a main one. A branch of a river is called a tributary.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

branch branch- branches branched branching

An elected representative has called for "answers" after the closure of the Omagh, County Tyrone, branch of the Samaritans charity.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Documentary branch voters, using a preferential voting system, annually produce a shortlist of 15 movies, announced in mid-December.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026

Sentencing Commission in the 1980s, an independent federal agency within the judicial branch.

From Slate ● Oct. 18, 2026

The animal charity's Medway West branch has launched to offer cut-price care for the pets of people on low incomes or receiving benefits.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

I closed my eyes and rested my head on the warm, smooth branch next to me.

From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan

Fruticose lichens have thalli that are branch-, cup- or club-like, imparting the look of tiny shrubs.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 22, 2021

We broke of many specimens of the branch- or tree-coral, which seemed to be in full vigour of life and activity.

From Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 2 by George Grey

The branch covered counties Fermanagh and Tyrone, with volunteers making lengthy journeys for shifts, and they they said volunteers are conscious that the distance between other branches in Northern Ireland may be unattainable.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Keep plants irrigated, grass mowed and tree branches 10 feet from chimneys and structures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

For this bookstore is also concealing a speakeasy of sorts, a secluded cafe and bar with multiple themed spaces and a two-story tree with glowing books growing out of its branches.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

Over the next 16 years, the church grew in popularity to draw thousands of followers in the church's branches across Kenya.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

He pushed back another pile of branches, bent down, and looked through the tangle of leaves.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

A few years ago, Drolma and her husband branched out into opening a campsite and a homestay for tourists, seeking to capitalize on Shangri-La’s tourism boom.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

But Chawawa has since branched out from social media - making two Bafta-nominated TV documentaries, starring on Taskmaster and doing stand-up comedy.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

EssilorLuxottica has also branched into hearing correction, with its Nuance Audio integrating hearing aids into eyeglasses frames.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

I’ll always prefer Mom’s barbecued chicken, fried chicken and French fries, but I have branched out, trying an array of new, relatively tamer foods, ranging from albacore tuna to zucchini.

From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2026

It was obviously a highway, for other runs branched off it in all directions.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

The bright yellow coral, which has a branching, tree-like appearance, was discovered between 360 and 529 meters below the Pacific Ocean's surface.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026

But it also means branching into new “AI adopters,” like companies in the transportation and real-estate sectors.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026

The foundation runs a World War II educational program, taking Wantagh students to a museum in New Orleans about that conflict, before branching into 9/11 education.

From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026

It also showed considerable artistic growth from the group’s strong 2012 debut record, “Boys & Girls,” expanding the band’s sonic palette and branching out thematically.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

In the center is the Cornucopia on its circle of sand with the twelve strips branching out from it.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

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Related Words

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

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