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¹branch

noun, often attributive \ˈbranch\

: a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk

: a local office or shop of a company or organization

: a major part of a government

Full Definition of BRANCH

: a natural subdivision of a plant stem; especially : a secondary shoot or stem (as a bough) arising from a main axis (as of a tree)

: something that extends from or enters into a main body or source: as

a (1) : a stream that flows into another usually larger stream : tributary (2) Southern & Midland : creek 2

b : a side road or way

c : a slender projection (as the tine of an antler)

d : a distinctive part of a mathematical curve

e : a part of a computer program executed as a result of a program decision

: a part of a complex body: as

a : a division of a family descending from a particular ancestor

b : an area of knowledge that may be considered apart from related areas <pathology is a branch of medicine>

c (1) : a division of an organization (2) : a separate but dependent part of a central organization <the neighborhood branch of the city library>

d : a language group less inclusive than a family <the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family>

— branched \ˈbrancht\ adjective

— branch·less \ˈbranch-ləs\ adjective

— branchy \ˈbran-chē\ adjective

See branch defined for English-language learners

See branch defined for kids

Origin of BRANCH

Middle English, from Anglo-French branche, from Late Latin branca paw

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to BRANCH

Synonyms: bough, limb

Antonyms: distributary, effluent

Other Botany Terms

annual, burgeon, chloroplast, nomenclature, succulent, sylvan, xylem

Rhymes with BRANCH

blanch, ranch, stanch

²branch

verb

: to divide into smaller parts : to separate into branches

Full Definition of BRANCH

intransitive verb

: to put forth branches : ramify

: to spring out (as from a main stem) : diverge

: to be an outgrowth —used with from <poetry that branched from religious prose>

: to extend activities —usually used with out <the business is branching out>

: to follow one of two or more branches (as in a computer program)

transitive verb

: to ornament with designs of branches

: to divide up : section

See branch defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of BRANCH

14th century

Related to BRANCH

Synonyms: radiate, fan (out), ray

Antonyms: concentrate, converge, focus, funnel, meet

BRANCH Defined for Kids

¹branch

noun \ˈbranch\

Definition of BRANCH for Kids

: a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk or from a main division of the trunk

: something extending from a main line or body like a branch <a branch of a railroad>

: a division or subordinate part of something <a branch of government> <The bank opened a new branch.>

— branched \ˈbrancht\ adjective

²branch

verb

branchedbranch·ing

Definition of BRANCH for Kids

: to spread or divide into smaller or attached parts : send out a branch <It was a long corridor and it branched into other corridors … — Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden>

Medical Dictionary