branch point

American  

noun

1. Electricity. a point in an electric network at which three or more conductors meet.

2. Mathematics. a point such that analytic continuation of a given function of a complex variable in a small neighborhood of the point produces a different functional value at the point.

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Etymology

Origin of branch point

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

For example, if a branch point was rotated and the taxon order changed, this would not alter the information because the evolution of each taxon from the branch point was independent of the other.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The branch point, or split, represents a common ancestor that existed in the past, but that no longer exists.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

Many phylogenetic trees have a single branch point at the base representing a common ancestor of all the branches in the tree.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

For example, in Figure 12.5, the branch point that gives rise to the mammal and reptile lineage from the frog lineage shows the origin of the amniotic egg character.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

And on our small planet, this moment in history is a historical branch point as profound as the confrontation of the Ionian scientists with the mystics 2,500 years ago.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan