branch

[branch, brahnch] /bræntʃ, brɑntʃ/

noun

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

a limb, offshoot, or ramification of any main stem:

the branches of a deer's antlers.

any member or part of a body or system; a section or subdivision:

the various branches of learning.

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

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.

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

Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. branch water (def 2).

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.

Compare group (def 4a).

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)

11.

to put forth branches; spread in branches.

12.

to divide into separate parts or subdivisions; diverge:

The main road branches off to the left.

13.

to expand or extend, as business activities:

The bank has plans to branch throughout the state.

verb (used with object)

14.

to divide into branches or sections.

15.

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

Verb phrases

16.

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

The business is branching out into computers.

Origin

1250-1300; Middle English bra(u)nche < Anglo-French; Old French branche < Late Latin branca paw, of uncertain origin

Related forms

branchless, adjective

branchlike, adjective

interbranch, adjective

multibranched, adjective

outbranch, verb (used with object)

unbranched, adjective

unbranching, adjective

underbranch, noun

well-branched, adjective

Can be confused

bough, bow, branch (see synonym study at the current entry)

Synonyms

1. offshoot, shoot. 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. 12. ramify, subdivide.

British Dictionary definitions for branch out

branch out

verb

(intransitive, adverb) often foll by into. to expand or extend one's interests: our business has branched out into computers now

branch

/brɑːntʃ/

noun

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

a subdivision of the stem or root of any other plant

an offshoot or secondary part: a branch of a deer's antlers

a subdivision or subsidiary section of something larger or more complex: branches of learning, branch of the family
(as modifier): a branch office

(US) any small stream

(maths) a section of a curve separated from the rest of the curve by discontinuities or special points

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

an alternative route in an atomic or nuclear decay series

verb

(intransitive) (of a tree or other plant) to produce or possess branches

10.

(intransitive) usually foll by from. (of stems, roots, etc) to grow and diverge (from another part)

11.

to divide or be divided into subsidiaries or offshoots

12.

(intransitive) often foll by off. to diverge from the main way, road, topic, etc

branch

c.1300, braunch, "limb of a tree" (also used of things analogous to it, especially geographic features), from Old French branche "branch, bough, twig; branch of a family" (12c.), from Late Latin branca "footprint," later "a claw, paw," of unknown origin, probably from Gaulish. The connecting notion would be the shape (cf. pedigree). Replaced native bough. Meaning "local office of a business" is first recorded 1817, from earlier sense of "component part of a system" (1690s).

"send out shoots or new limbs," late 14c., also, of blood vessels, family trees, etc., "to be forked," from branch (n.). Meaning "to spread out from a center, radiate" is from c.1400. Related: Branched; branching.

branch out in Medicine

branch (brānch)
n.
An offshoot or a division of the main portion of a structure, especially that of a nerve, blood vessel, or lymphatic vessel; a ramus.

branch out in the Bible

a symbol of kings descended from royal ancestors (Ezek. 17:3, 10; Dan. 11:7); of prosperity (Job 8:16); of the Messiah, a branch out of the root of the stem of Jesse (Isa. 11:1), the "beautiful branch" (4:2), a "righteous branch" (Jer. 23:5), "the Branch" (Zech. 3:8; 6:12). Disciples are branches of the true vine (John 15:5, 6). "The branch of the terrible ones" (Isa. 25:5) is rightly translated in the Revised Version "the song of the terrible ones," i.e., the song of victory shall be brought low by the destruction of Babylon and the return of the Jews from captivity. The "abominable branch" is a tree on which a malefactor has been hanged (Isa. 14:19). The "highest branch" in Ezek. 17:3 represents Jehoiakim the king.

Idioms and Phrases with branch out

branch out

Separate into subdivisions; strike off in a new direction. For example, Our software business is branching out into more interactive products, or Bill doesn't want to concentrate on just one field; he wants to branch out more. This term alludes to the growth habits of a tree's limbs. [ Early 1700s ]

Also see: branch off

branch

also see: