| branch (brɑːntʃ) |
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| —n |
| 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. | a. a subdivision or subsidiary section of something larger or more complex: branches of learning; branch of the family |
| | b. (as modifier): a branch office |
| 5. | (US) any small stream |
| 6. | maths a section of a curve separated from the rest of the curve by discontinuities or special points |
| 7. | computing Also called: jump 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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| —vb (usually foll by from) (often foll by off) |
| 9. | (intr) (of a tree or other plant) to produce or possess branches |
| 10. | (of stems, roots, etc) to grow and diverge (from another part) |
| 11. | to divide or be divided into subsidiaries or offshoots |
| 12. | to diverge from the main way, road, topic, etc |
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| [C13: from Old French branche, from Late Latin branca paw, foot] |
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| 'branchless |
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| —adj |
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| 'branchlike |
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| —adj |
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| 'branchy |
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| —adj |