branch


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to branch: Branch Accounting

branch

 (brănch)
n.
1.
a. A secondary woody stem or limb growing from the trunk or main stem of a tree or shrub or from another secondary limb.
b. A lateral division or subdivision of certain other plant parts, such as a root or flower cluster.
2. Something that resembles a branch of a tree, as in form or function, as:
a. A secondary outgrowth or subdivision of a main axis, such as the tine of a deer's antlers.
b. 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. A limited part of a larger or more complex unit or system, especially:
a. 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.
b. A division of a business or other organization.
c. A division of a family, categorized by descent from a particular ancestor.
d. Linguistics A subdivision of a family of languages, such as the Germanic branch of Indo-European.
4.
a. A tributary of a river.
b. Chiefly Southern US See creek. See Note at run.
c. A divergent section of a river, especially near the mouth.
5. Mathematics A part of a curve that is separated, as by discontinuities or extreme points.
6. Computers
a. A sequence of program instructions to which the normal sequence of instructions relinquishes control, depending on the value of certain variables.
b. The instructions executed as the result of such a passing of control.
7. Chemistry A bifurcation in a linear chain of atoms, especially in an organic molecule where isomeric hydrocarbon groups can vary in the location and number of these bifurcations of the carbon chain.
v. branched, branch·ing, branch·es
v.intr.
1. To put forth a branch or branches; spread by dividing.
2. 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.
3. Computers To relinquish control to another set of instructions or another routine as a result of the presence of a branch.
v.tr.
1. To separate (something) into branches.
2. To embroider (something) with a design of foliage or flowers.
Phrasal Verbs:
branch off
To diverge from a main body or path: a new faction that branched off from an established political party.
branch out
1. To develop branches or tributaries: a river that branches out into a delta.
2. To expand the scope of one's interests or activities: a knitter who branched out into crocheting.

[Middle English, from Old French branche, from Late Latin branca, paw, perhaps from Gaulish *branka; perhaps akin to Lithuanian ranka and Russian *ruka, hand.]

branch′less adj.
branch′y adj.
Synonyms: branch, arm1, fork, offshoot
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.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

branch

(brɑːntʃ)
n
1. (Botany) a secondary woody stem arising from the trunk or bough of a tree or the main stem of a shrub
2. (Botany) 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. (Physical Geography) US any small stream
6. (Mathematics) maths a section of a curve separated from the rest of the curve by discontinuities or special points
7. (Computer Science) computing Also called: jump a departure from the normal sequence of programmed instructions into a separate program area
8. (Nuclear Physics) an alternative route in an atomic or nuclear decay series
vb
9. (Botany) (intr) (of a tree or other plant) to produce or possess branches
10. (Botany) (usually foll by: from) (of stems, roots, etc) to grow and diverge (from another part)
11. to divide or be divided into subsidiaries or offshoots
12. (often foll by: off) to diverge from the main way, road, topic, etc
[C13: from Old French branche, from Late Latin branca paw, foot]
ˈbranchless adj
ˈbranchˌlike adj
ˈbranchy adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

branch

(bræntʃ, brɑntʃ)
n.
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 medicine.
4. a local operating division of a business, library, etc.
5. a line of family descent stemming from a particular ancestor; a division of a family.
6. a tributary stream or any stream that is not a large river or a bayou.
8. a group of related languages constituting a subdivision of a language family: the Germanic branch of Indo-European.
9. a point in a computer program where the computer selects one of two or more instructions to execute, according to some criterion.
v.i.
10. to put forth branches; spread in branches.
11. to divide into separate parts or subdivisions; diverge: The road branches off to the left.
12. to expand or extend, as business activities (usu. fol. by out).
v.t.
13. to divide into branches or sections.
[1250–1300; Middle English bra(u)nche < Anglo-French; Old French branche < Late Latin branca paw, of uncertain orig.]
branch′less, adj.
branch′like`, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

branch

1. A subdivision of any organization.
2. A geographically separate unit of an activity which performs all or part of the primary functions of the parent activity on a smaller scale. Unlike an annex, a branch is not merely an overflow addition.
3. An arm or service of the Army.
4. The contingency options built into the basic plan. A branch is used for changing the mission, orientation, or direction of movement of a force to aid success of the operation based on anticipated events, opportunities, or disruptions caused by enemy actions and reactions. See also sequel.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.

branch


Past participle: branched
Gerund: branching

Imperative
branch
branch
Present
I branch
you branch
he/she/it branches
we branch
you branch
they branch
Preterite
I branched
you branched
he/she/it branched
we branched
you branched
they branched
Present Continuous
I am branching
you are branching
he/she/it is branching
we are branching
you are branching
they are branching
Present Perfect
I have branched
you have branched
he/she/it has branched
we have branched
you have branched
they have branched
Past Continuous
I was branching
you were branching
he/she/it was branching
we were branching
you were branching
they were branching
Past Perfect
I had branched
you had branched
he/she/it had branched
we had branched
you had branched
they had branched
Future
I will branch
you will branch
he/she/it will branch
we will branch
you will branch
they will branch
Future Perfect
I will have branched
you will have branched
he/she/it will have branched
we will have branched
you will have branched
they will have branched
Future Continuous
I will be branching
you will be branching
he/she/it will be branching
we will be branching
you will be branching
they will be branching
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been branching
you have been branching
he/she/it has been branching
we have been branching
you have been branching
they have been branching
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been branching
you will have been branching
he/she/it will have been branching
we will have been branching
you will have been branching
they will have been branching
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been branching
you had been branching
he/she/it had been branching
we had been branching
you had been branching
they had been branching
Conditional
I would branch
you would branch
he/she/it would branch
we would branch
you would branch
they would branch
Past Conditional
I would have branched
you would have branched
he/she/it would have branched
we would have branched
you would have branched
they would have branched
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.branch - a division of some larger or more complex organization; "a branch of Congress"; "botany is a branch of biology"; "the Germanic branch of Indo-European languages"
local post office, post office - a local branch where postal services are available"
division - an administrative unit in government or business
executive branch, Executive Office of the President - the branch of the United States government that is responsible for carrying out the laws
legislative branch - the branch of the United States government that has the power of legislating
judicial branch - the branch of the United States government responsible for the administration of justice
2.branch - a division of a stem, or secondary stem arising from the main stem of a plant
stalk, stem - a slender or elongated structure that supports a plant or fungus or a plant part or plant organ
bark - tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
deadwood - a branch or a part of a tree that is dead
tree branch, limb - any of the main branches arising from the trunk or a bough of a tree
branchlet, sprig, twig - a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year
3.branch - a part of a forked or branching shape; "he broke off one of the branches"
subfigure - a figure that is a part of another figure
forking, furcation - the place where something divides into branches
bifurcation - a bifurcating branch (one or both of them)
brachium - (biology) a branching or armlike part of an animal
fork - the region of the angle formed by the junction of two branches; "they took the south fork"; "he climbed into the crotch of a tree"
4.branch - a natural consequence of developmentbranch - a natural consequence of development
consequence, effect, result, upshot, outcome, event, issue - a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon; "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decision had depressing consequences for business"; "he acted very wise after the event"
5.branch - a stream or river connected to a larger one
billabong - a branch of a river made by water flowing from the main stream only when the water level is high
distributary - a branch of a river that flows away from the main stream and does not rejoin it
confluent, tributary, affluent, feeder - a branch that flows into the main stream
stream, watercourse - a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
6.branch - any projection that is thought to resemble a human armbranch - any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm; "the arm of the record player"; "an arm of the sea"; "a branch of the sewer"
projection - any structure that branches out from a central support
Verb1.branch - grow and send out branches or branch-like structures; "these plants ramify early and get to be very large"
grow - become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain; "The problem grew too large for me"; "Her business grew fast"
furcate, branch, fork, ramify, separate - divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork; "The road forks"
2.branch - divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork; "The road forks"
branch, ramify - grow and send out branches or branch-like structures; "these plants ramify early and get to be very large"
arborise, arborize - branch out like trees; "nerve fibers arborize"
twig - branch out in a twiglike manner; "The lightning bolt twigged in several directions"
bifurcate - divide into two branches; "The road bifurcated"
trifurcate - divide into three; "The road trifurcates at the bridge"
diverge - move or draw apart; "The two paths diverge here"
branch out, broaden, diversify - vary in order to spread risk or to expand; "The company diversified"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

branch

noun
1. bough, shoot, arm, spray, limb, sprig, offshoot, prong, ramification the low, overhanging branches of a giant pine tree
2. office, department, unit, wing, chapter, bureau, local office The local branch is handling the accounts.
3. division, part, section, subdivision, subsection He had a fascination for submarines and joined this branch of the service.
4. discipline, field, section, sphere, subdivision an experimental branch of naturopathic medicine
branch off turn off, deviate, change direction, leave the road, take a side road, take another road, quit the road, depart from the road She branched off down the earth track.
branch out expand, diversify I continued studying moths, and branched out to other insects.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

branch

noun
1. Something resembling or structurally analogous to a tree branch:
2. An area of academic study that is part of a larger body of learning:
3. A local unit of a business or an auxiliary controlled by such a business:
4. A component of government that performs a given function:
5. A part of a family, tribe, or other group, or of such a group's language, that is believed to stem from a common ancestor:
6. Chiefly Regional. A small stream:
Chiefly Regional: kill, run.
verb
To separate into branches or branchlike parts.Also used with out:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
غصنفرعفَرْعيتفرع
větevbočnípobočkarozvětvovat se
filialforgrene siggrenafdelingdreje af
oksaalahaarahaaraantuahaarautua
granagrane
ágfiókszaküzletág
grein; deild; útibúgreinast, skiptasttrjágrein
가지
atšakafilialasišsišakotišaka
atzarotiesatzarsfiliālenozarojumssazaroties
gałąźoddziałrozgałęziać sięrozgałęzieniedział
ramramură
rozvetvovať sa
vejapodružnicaposlovalnicarazcepiti se
filial
สาขา
cành câynhánh

branch

[brɑːntʃ]
A. N
1. [of tree] → rama f (fig) [of science] → rama f; [of government, police] → sección f; [of industry] → ramo m
2. (Comm) [of company, bank] → sucursal f
3. (in road, railway, pipe) → ramal m
4. [of river] → brazo m (US) [of stream] → arroyo m
5. [of family] → rama f
B. VI [road etc] → bifurcarse
C. CPD branch line N (Rail) → ramal m, línea f secundaria
branch manager Ndirector(a) m/f de sucursal
branch office Nsucursal f
branch off VI + ADV after a few miles, a small road branches off to the rightdespués de unas cuantas millas hay una carretera pequeña que sale hacia la derecha
we branched off before reaching Madridtomamos un desvío antes de llegar a Madrid
we branched off at Medinatomamos el desvío de la carretera principal en Medina
branch out VI + ADV (fig) → extenderse
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

branch

[ˈbrɑːntʃ] n
[tree] → branche f
[shop] → succursale f
[bank] → agence f
[organization] → section f; [family] → branche f
[subject] → branche f
branch off
vi (= turn off) → bifurquer
branch out
vidiversifier ses activités
to branch out into → étendre ses activités àbranch line nligne f secondairebranch manager n [bank] → directeur/trice m/f d'agence; [shop] → directeur/trice m/f de succursale
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

branch

n
(Bot) → Zweig m; (growing straight from trunk) → Ast m
(of river, pipe, duct)Arm m; (of road)Abzweigung f; (of family, race, language)Zweig m; (of railway)Abzweig m; (of antler)Sprosse f, → Ende nt
(in river, road, railway, pipe, duct) → Gabelung f
(Comm) → Filiale f, → Zweigstelle f; (of company, bank also)Geschäftsstelle f; main branchHaupt(geschäfts)stelle f; (of store)Hauptgeschäft nt; (of bank)Hauptgeschäftsstelle f, → Zentrale f
(= field: of subject etc) → Zweig m
vi (= divide, river, road etc) → sich gabeln; (in more than two) → sich verzweigen

branch

:
branch line
n (Rail) → Zweiglinie f, → Nebenlinie f
branch manager
nFilialleiter m
branch office
nFiliale f, → Zweigstelle f
branch road
n (US) → Nebenstraße f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

branch

[brɑːntʃ]
1. n (also) (fig) → ramo; (in road, railway, pipe) → diramazione f (Comm) (of company, bank) → filiale f, succursale f
2. vi (road) → diramarsi, ramificarsi
branch off vi + adv (road, path) → diramarsi; (speaker) → divagare
branch out vi + adv to branch out into (business) → estendere la propria attività nel ramo di; (person) → mettersi nel ramo di
he's branched out on his own → si è messo in proprio
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

branch

(braːntʃ) noun
1. an arm-like part of a tree. He cut some branches off the oak tree.
2. an offshoot from the main part (of a business, railway etc). There isn't a branch of that store in this town; (also adjective) That train runs on the branch line.
verb
(usually with out/off) to spread out like, or into, a branch or branches. The road to the coast branches off here.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

branch

فَرْع větev filial Zweig κλαδί rama oksa branche grane ramo 가지 tak gren gałąź galho ветвь filial สาขา dal cành cây 分枝
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

branch

n. rama, bifurcación; sección, dependencia.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

branch

n rama
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
When a big branch bent down to seize him the Woodman chopped at it so fiercely that he cut it in two.
One branch of the legislative department forms also a great constitutional council to the executive chief, as, on another hand, it is the sole depositary of judicial power in cases of impeachment, and is invested with the supreme appellate jurisdiction in all other cases.
At each period of growth all the growing twigs have tried to branch out on all sides, and to overtop and kill the surrounding twigs and branches, in the same manner as species and groups of species have tried to overmaster other species in the great battle for life.
On one branch there hung little nets cut out of colored paper, and each net was filled with sugarplums; and among the other boughs gilded apples and walnuts were suspended, looking as though they had grown there, and little blue and white tapers were placed among the leaves.
A luckless young female slipped from an insecure hold upon a high branch and came crashing to the ground almost at Kerchak's feet.
Sheeta slowly edged his hind paws along the branch still further beneath him, and then with a hideous shriek he launched himself toward the great ape.
He stooped to the fire, picked up a blazing branch, and slipped in an instant through a sallyport which he had made in our gateway.
It was by them shown, as well on the credit of historical examples, as from the reason of the thing, that the most POPULAR branch of every government, partaking of the republican genius, by being generally the favorite of the people, will be as generally a full match, if not an overmatch, for every other member of the Government.
And the branch of the tree on which he had put an end to his own sufferings was arranged in such a way that, before dying, he had seen, for his last consolation, a thousand men writhing in his company.
It was evident that the massive beast pursuing us was not built for speed, so all that I considered necessary was to gain the trees sufficiently ahead of it to enable me to climb to the safety of some great branch before it came up.
So Baloo, the Teacher of the Law, taught him the Wood and Water Laws: how to tell a rotten branch from a sound one; how to speak politely to the wild bees when he came upon a hive of them fifty feet above ground; what to say to Mang the Bat when he disturbed him in the branches at midday; and how to warn the water-snakes in the pools before he splashed down among them.
She had been listening attentively to Meriem for an hour, propped against the bole of a tree while her lithe, young mistress stretched catlike and luxurious along a swaying branch before her.