| 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. |
| 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. |
| 14. | to divide into branches or sections. |
| 15. | to adorn with needlework; decorate with embroidery, as in textile fabrics. |
| 16. | branch out, to expand or extend, as business activities, pursuits, interests, etc.: The business is branching out into computers. |

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.