branchy

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Mathematics A part of a curve that is separated, as by discontinuities or extreme points.

6. 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.

1. To put forth a branch or branches; spread by dividing.

2. 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.

3. Computer Science To relinquish control to another set of instructions or another routine as a result of the presence of a branch.

1. To separate (something) into or as if into branches.

2. To embroider (something) with a design of foliage or flowers.

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.