branch Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a division of some larger or more complex organization
    subdivision; arm.
    • a branch of Congress
    • botany is a branch of biology
    • the Germanic branch of Indo-European languages
  2. noun a division of a stem, or secondary stem arising from the main stem of a plant
  3. noun a part of a forked or branching shape
    ramification; leg.
    • he broke off one of the branches
  4. noun a natural consequence of development
    outgrowth; offshoot; offset.
  5. noun a stream or river connected to a larger one
  6. noun any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm
    limb; arm.
    • the arm of the record player
    • an arm of the sea
    • a branch of the sewer
  7. verb grow and send out branches or branch-like structures
    ramify.
    • these plants ramify early and get to be very large
  8. verb divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork
    ramify; fork; furcate; separate.
    • The road forks

WordNet

Branch noun
Etymology
OE. braunche, F. branche, fr. LL. branca claw of a bird or beast of prey; cf. Armor. brank branch, bough.
Wordforms
plural Branches
Definitions
  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. Syn. -- Bough; limb; shoot; offshoot; twig; sprig.
Branch adjective
Definitions
  1. 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 intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Branched present participle & verbal noun Branching
Definitions
  1. To shoot or spread in branches; to separate into branches; to ramify.
  2. To divide into separate parts or subdivision.
    To branch out into a long disputation. Spectator.
Branch transitive verb
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913