Main Entry: ¹branch

Pronunciation: \ˈbranch\

Function: noun

Usage: often attributive

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

Date: 14th century

1 : 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)
2 : 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
3 : 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