branch

1 of 2

noun

ˈbranch 

often attributive

1

botany : a natural subdivision of a plant stem

especially : a secondary shoot or stem (such as a bough) arising from a main axis (as of a tree)

pruning the tree's lower branches

a swing mounted on a tree branch

2

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

a(1)

: a stream that flows into another usually larger stream : tributary

the river's smaller branches

(2)

Southern US and Midland US : creek sense 1

b

: a side road or way

the railroad's branch line

c

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

the branches of a menorah

d

mathematics : a distinctive part of a mathematical curve (see curve entry 3 sense 1a(2))

e

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

3

: a part of a complex body: such as

a

: a division of a family descending from a particular ancestor

the Iranian branch of the family

b

: an area of knowledge that may be considered apart from related areas

orthopedics and other branches of medicine

syntax is a branch of linguistics

c(1)

: a division of an organization

a branch of the armed services

the government's legislative and executive branches

(2)

: a separate but dependent part of a central organization

the neighborhood branch of the city library

d

linguistics : a language group less inclusive than a family (see family entry 1 sense 5c)

the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family

branched

ˈbrancht 

adjective

branchless

ˈbranch-ləs 

adjective

branchy

ˈbran-chē 

adjective

branch

2 of 2

verb

branched; branching; branches

intransitive verb

1

botany : to put forth secondary shoots or stems : to put forth branches (see branch entry 1 sense 1) : ramify

an elm branching out over the rooftop

2

: to extend in different directions from a main part or point : to spring out (as from a main stem) : diverge

where the spring branches off from the river

3

: to develop or derive from a source : to be an outgrowth

—used with from

poetry that branched from religious prose

4

: to extend activities

—usually used with out

the business is branching out into formal wear

5

computers : to follow one of two or more parts of a computer program executed as a result of a program decision : to follow one of two or more branches (see branch entry 1 sense 2e)

transitive verb

1

: to ornament with designs of branches (see branch entry 1 sense 1)

branched velvet

2

: to divide up : section

Synonyms

Noun

• bough
• limb

Verb

• fan (out)
• radiate
• ray

Examples of branch in a Sentence

Noun

birds singing from the branches of a tree

The bank has a new branch in our area.

She works at the branch office downtown.

Verb

The stream branches from the river near their house.

threads branched from the center of the spider web

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The bill has support from the Association of Flight Attendants and a California branch of the American Federation of Government Employees representing TSA agents. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2024

Bird photographers can use it to record the distance to a feeder or a particular branch in a tree. —PCMAG, 25 Apr. 2024

Brian Hom, who owns two branches of smoothie and Acai bowl chain Vitality Bowls in San Jose, told Business Insider that the price hikes could be scaring off diners. —John Phillips, Orange County Register, 23 Apr. 2024

The executive branch then launched a process to rewrite administrative rules that apply to the nearly 90,000 wells on federal public land, where cleanup costs vary widely depending on the depth and condition of the well, among other factors. —Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 22 Apr. 2024

Moreover 85% of Ukrainians think that the Moscow branch of the Orthodox Church is a security threat. —Peter Pomerantsev, TIME, 20 Apr. 2024

With a recent legislative request and parallel concerns emerging within the legislative branch, now is the the right time to urge the Navajo Nation Department of Justice to promptly offer guidance to both the legislative and executive branches, Nygren said. —The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024

The party-line vote by Schumer’s caucus will only embolden this administration’s view that laws are just suggestions to an all-powerful executive branch. —The Editors, National Review, 19 Apr. 2024

With the caliphate dismantled but not eradicated — and with branches from Africa through the Middle East to Central Asia — ISIS-K has revived some of the would-be state’s global ambitions. —Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024

Verb

The species was identified as a tree frog, a group of frogs that spend their lives hopping from leaf to leaf and branch to branch in forest environments. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024

Some hanging baskets come pre-assembled, while others require you to arrange the flower stems or branches yourself. —Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023

The principal type of neuron in the cerebellum, called the Purkinje cell, is widely branching like a fan coral, yet flattened and nearly two-dimensional. —R Douglas Fields, WIRED, 31 Mar. 2024

So Medieval Blue Bendy have spent years bubbling in London’s indie undercurrents, taking their time to branch away from monologue-rock towards witty indie-pop chronicles that are as indebted to Broadcast and Destroyer as Dry Cleaning or Black Country, New Road. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2024

Within a few years, the creator branched into more art of celebrities, like Stevie Wonder, Meatloaf, Prince and even Betty White, to sell for charity, and eventually commissioned portraits of families and pets. —Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 7 Mar. 2024

Since then, Improbable’s M2 network has also branched into other sports, creating metaverses that act as a kind of meet-and-greet for fans and professional athletes, such as Arsenal Football Club’s Oleksandr Zinchenko. —Sarah Valenzuela, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2023

Assembly Some hanging baskets come pre-assembled, while others require you to arrange the flower stems or branches yourself. —Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023

He’s held several positions since, forming his own marketing group, serving on several committees and boards, and even branching into television production. —Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 22 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing branch

• branch line
• branch off
• branch out
• branch water
• inter-branch
• olive branch
• root and branch
• sub-branch

Kids Definition

branch

1 of 2 noun

ˈbranch 

1

: a natural division of a plant stem (as a bough growing from a trunk or twig from a bough)

2

: something extending from a main line or source

river branch

a railroad branch

3

: a separate or subordinate division or part of a central system

executive branch of the government

a branch of a bank

branched

ˈbrancht 

adjective

branchless

ˈbranch-ləs 

adjective

branch

2 of 2 verb

1

: to send out branches : spread or separate into branches

a great elm branches over the yard

2

: to spring out from a main body or line : diverge

streets branching off the highway

3

: to extend activities

the business is branching out all over the state

Medical Definition

branch

noun

ˈbranch 

1

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

a branch of an artery

2

: an area of knowledge that may be considered apart from related areas

pathology is a branch of medicine

branch intransitive verb

branched

ˈbrancht 

adjective

Legal Definition

branch

noun

: a part of a complex body: as

a

: one of the three main divisions of the U.S. or a state government see also executive, judiciary, legislature

b

: a division of a business or organization

an insurer's branch office

see also branch bank at bank