branch

¹

[branch, brahnch]

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.

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

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

branch

¹

/ 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

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

combining form

1. (in zoology) indicating gills

   lamellibranch

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

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. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of branch¹

C13: from Old French branche , from Late Latin branca paw, foot

Origin of branch²

from Latin: _branchia

Idioms and Phrases

• olive branch
• root and branch

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Immigration courts are not part of the judicial branch but fall under the Department of Justice.

From Los Angeles Times

Super normal behavior from the judicial branch for totally normal times.

From Slate

If “Romulus” represents the start of a new branch for the franchise, perhaps whoever determines its next chapter can draw on the confidence of knowing they don’t have to elevate another Ripley clone.

From Salon

By law, the Federal Reserve operates independently of the executive branch.

From Slate

In a 1976 commencement speech at Bryant College in Rhode Island, Burns said: “The founders of the Federal Reserve System were well aware of the dangers that would inhere in the creation of a monetary authority subservient to the executive branch of government—and thus subject to political manipulation.”

From Slate

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.