branch definition | Dictionary.com

branch

[branch, brahnch]

–noun

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

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 (def. 2).

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. Compare group (def. 4a).

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)

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 phrase

16.	branch out, to expand or extend, as business activities, pursuits, interests, etc.: The business is branching out into computers.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME bra(u)nche < AF; OF branche < LL branca paw, of uncert. orig.

Related forms:

branchless, adjective

branchlike, adjective

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.

branch water

–noun

1.	water in or from a branch, creek, stream, etc.; pure, natural water.

2.	Also called branch. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. (in a drink, highball, etc.) plain water as distinguished from soda water, ginger ale, or the like; ordinary water.

Origin:
1840–50

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To branch

branch (brānch)

1. A secondary woody stem or limb growing from the trunk or main stem of a tree or shrub or from another secondary limb.
2. A lateral division or subdivision of certain other plant parts, such as a root or flower cluster.
3. A secondary outgrowth or subdivision of a main axis, such as the tine of a deer's antlers.
4. Anatomy An offshoot or a division of the main portion of a structure, especially that of a nerve, blood vessel, or lymphatic vessel; a ramus.
5. An area of specialized skill or knowledge, especially academic or vocational, that is related to but separate from other areas: the judicial branch of government; the branch of medicine called neurology.
6. A division of a business or other organization.
7. A division of a family, categorized by descent from a particular ancestor.
8. Linguistics A subdivision of a family of languages, such as the Germanic branch of Indo-European.
9. A tributary of a river.
10. Chiefly Southern U.S. See creek. See Regional Note at run.
11. A divergent section of a river, especially near the mouth.
12. A sequence of program instructions to which the normal sequence of instructions relinquishes control, depending on the value of certain variables.
13. The instructions executed as the result of such a passing of control.
Something that resembles a branch of a tree, as in form or function, as:
1. A secondary outgrowth or subdivision of a main axis, such as the tine of a deer's antlers.
2. Anatomy An offshoot or a division of the main portion of a structure, especially that of a nerve, blood vessel, or lymphatic vessel; a ramus.
3. An area of specialized skill or knowledge, especially academic or vocational, that is related to but separate from other areas: the judicial branch of government; the branch of medicine called neurology.
4. A division of a business or other organization.
5. A division of a family, categorized by descent from a particular ancestor.
6. Linguistics A subdivision of a family of languages, such as the Germanic branch of Indo-European.
7. A tributary of a river.
8. Chiefly Southern U.S. See creek. See Regional Note at run.
9. A divergent section of a river, especially near the mouth.
10. A sequence of program instructions to which the normal sequence of instructions relinquishes control, depending on the value of certain variables.
11. The instructions executed as the result of such a passing of control.
A limited part of a larger or more complex unit or system, especially:
1. An area of specialized skill or knowledge, especially academic or vocational, that is related to but separate from other areas: the judicial branch of government; the branch of medicine called neurology.
2. A division of a business or other organization.
3. A division of a family, categorized by descent from a particular ancestor.
4. Linguistics A subdivision of a family of languages, such as the Germanic branch of Indo-European.
5. A tributary of a river.
6. Chiefly Southern U.S. See creek. See Regional Note at run.
7. A divergent section of a river, especially near the mouth.
8. A sequence of program instructions to which the normal sequence of instructions relinquishes control, depending on the value of certain variables.
9. The instructions executed as the result of such a passing of control.
1. A tributary of a river.
2. Chiefly Southern U.S. See creek. See Regional Note at run.
3. A divergent section of a river, especially near the mouth.
4. A sequence of program instructions to which the normal sequence of instructions relinquishes control, depending on the value of certain variables.
5. The instructions executed as the result of such a passing of control.
Mathematics A part of a curve that is separated, as by discontinuities or extreme points.
Computer Science
1. A sequence of program instructions to which the normal sequence of instructions relinquishes control, depending on the value of certain variables.
2. The instructions executed as the result of such a passing of control.

v. branched, branch·ing, branch·es

v. intr.

To put forth a branch or branches; spread by dividing.
1. To come forth as a branch or subdivision; develop or diverge from: an unpaved road that branches from the main road; a theory that branches from an older system of ideas.
2. To enlarge the scope of one's interests, business, or activities: branch out from physics into related fields.
Computer Science To relinquish control to another set of instructions or another routine as a result of the presence of a branch.

v. tr.

To separate (something) into or as if into branches.
To embroider (something) with a design of foliage or flowers.

[Middle English, from Old French branche, from Late Latin branca, paw, perhaps of Celtic origin.]
branch'less adj., branch'y adj.

Synonyms: These nouns denote something resembling or structurally similar to a limb of a tree: a branch of a railroad; an arm of the sea; the western fork of the river; an offshoot of a mountain range.

creek (krēk, krĭk)

A small stream, often a shallow or intermittent tributary to a river. Also called regionally branch, brook¹, kill², run.
A channel or stream running through a salt marsh: tidal creeks teeming with shore wildlife.
Chiefly British A small inlet in a shoreline, extending farther inland than a cove.

[Middle English creke, probably from Old Norse kriki, bend.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Branch

Branch\, n.; pl. Branches. [OE. braunche, F. branche, fr. LL. branca claw of a bird or beast of prey; cf. Armor. brank branch, bough.]

1. (Bot.) A shoot or secondary stem growing from the main stem, or from a principal limb or bough of a tree or other plant.

2. Any division extending like a branch; any arm or part connected with the main body of thing; ramification; as, the branch of an antler; the branch of a chandelier; a branch of a river; a branch of a railway.

Most of the branches, or streams, were dried up. --W. Irving.

3. Any member or part of a body or system; a distinct article; a section or subdivision; a department. "Branches of knowledge." --Prescott.

It is a branch and parcel of mine oath. --Shak.

4. (Geom.) One of the portions of a curve that extends outwards to an indefinitely great distance; as, the branches of an hyperbola.

5. A line of family descent, in distinction from some other line or lines from the same stock; any descendant in such a line; as, the English branch of a family.

His father, a younger branch of the ancient stock. --Carew.

6. (Naut.) A warrant or commission given to a pilot, authorizing him to pilot vessels in certain waters.

Branches of a bridle, two pieces of bent iron, which bear the bit, the cross chains, and the curb.

Branch herring. See Alewife.

Root and branch, totally, wholly.

Syn: Bough; limb; shoot; offshoot; twig; sprig.

Branch

Branch\, a. Diverging from, or tributary to, a main stock, line, way, theme, etc.; as, a branch vein; a branch road or line; a branch topic; a branch store.

Branch

Branch\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Branched; p. pr. & vb. n. Branching.]

1. To shoot or spread in branches; to separate into branches; to ramify.

2. To divide into separate parts or subdivision.

To branch off, to form a branch or a separate part; to diverge.

To branch out, to speak diffusively; to extend one's discourse to other topics than the main one; also, to enlarge the scope of one's business, etc.

To branch out into a long disputation. --Spectator.

Branch

Branch\, v. t. 1. To divide as into branches; to make subordinate division in.

2. To adorn with needlework representing branches, flowers, or twigs.

The train whereof loose far behind her strayed, Branched with gold and pearl, most richly wrought. --Spenser.

Language Translation for : branch

Spanish: rama,

German: der Ast,

Japanese: 枝

More Translations »

branch

1297, "limb of a tree" (also used of things analogous to it, especially geographic features), from O.Fr. branche, from L.L. branca "a claw, paw," of unknown origin, probably Gaulish. Meaning "local office of a business" is first recorded 1817, from earlier sense of "component part of a system" (1696). The verb meaning "to diverge from a central point" is first attested 1799.

Main Entry: branch
Function: noun
: a part of a complex body: as a : one of the three main divisions of the U.S. or a state government —see also EXECUTIVE, JUDICIARY, LEGISLATURE b : a division of a business or organization branch office> —see also branch bank at BANK

Main Entry: branch
Pronunciation: 'branch
Function: noun
1 : something that extends from or enters into a main body or source branch ofan artery>
2 : an area of knowledge that may be considered apart from related areas branch of medicine> —branch intransitiveverb —branched /'brancht/ adjective

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
1. An edge in a tree.
2. A jump.

Branch

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.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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branch

In addition to the idioms beginning with branch, also see olive branch; root and branch.

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