branch

play

noun, often attributive \ ˈbranch \

Definition of branch

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 & Midland :creek 2

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 ³curve 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 ¹family 4c)

the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family

—

branched

play \ˈbrancht\ adjective

—

branchless

play \ˈbranch-ləs\ adjective

—

branchy

play \ˈbran-chē\ adjective

See branch defined for English-language learners

See branch defined for kids

Examples of branch in a Sentence

birds singing from the branches of a tree
The bank has a new branch in our area.
She works at the branch office downtown.

Recent Examples of branch from the Web

The bank has apologized for its actions, fired some executives and ended sales goals for branch employees in its efforts to regain customer trust.

— rick rothacker, charlotteobserver, "‘Tremendous amount of evidence’ to examine in Wells Fargo probe, U.S. Attorney says," 30 Aug. 2017
Sammy Salvidar, the driver, squeezed out of a window and clung to a tree branch.

— wesley lowery and avi selk, chicagotribune.com, "'He laid down his life': Houston police officer among Harvey's victims," 29 Aug. 2017
Two months ago, ahead of the Eid al-Fitr Muslim holiday, a Taliban suicide bomber targeted a Kabul Bank branch in southern Helmand province, killing at least 29 people, mostly civilians.

— Washington Post, "Taliban suicide bomber targets Kabul bank, kills 5 people," 29 Aug. 2017
A tree removal crew arrived at the house on Saturday, first cutting off the brittle branches before removing the rest of the cedar.

— anthony clark carpio, Burbank Leader, "Beetle infestation means end to 90-year-old tree in Burbank," 29 Aug. 2017
The Houston SPCA branch has also been rescuing hundreds of animals the past few days, and is looking for donations.

— lisa ryan, The Cut, "How You Can Help Hurricane Harvey Victims," 28 Aug. 2017
The bank is based in Manhattan, Kan., and has branches in Overland Park and Lenexa.

— mark davis, kansascity, "Who bounced $10.3 million worth of checks at a Kansas bank?," 25 Aug. 2017
Japan isn't the only country experimenting with the 81-year-old candy: Earlier this year, Nestlé's Singapore branch was reportedly developing a Kit Kat flavored with durian, a local favorite that also might be the smelliest fruit in the world.

— andrea park, Teen Vogue, "Cough-Drop–Flavored Kit Kats Debut in Japan," 23 Aug. 2017
While the Williams sisters have made family reunions in the finals of Grand Slams feel normal, multiple branches of a family tree breaking through to the top of the sport remains a rare phenomenon.

— Longreads, "Family Band," 22 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'branch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of branch

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

branch Synonyms

Synonyms

bough, limb

Antonyms

distributary, effluent

Related Words

branchlet, offshoot, outgrowth, shoot, spur; spray, sprig, twig

Other Botany Terms

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

branch

verb

Definition of branch

intransitive verb

1 botany :to put forth secondary shoots or stems :to put forth branches (see ¹branch 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 ¹branch 2e)

transitive verb

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

branched velvet

2 :to divide up :section

See branch defined for English-language learners

Examples of branch in a Sentence

The stream branches from the river near their house.
threads branched from the center of the spider web

Recent Examples of branch from the Web

The 1980s brought a critical strategic move—branching out with a national edition, for which consumers would pay a relatively hefty sum (in Chicago today, for instance, $2.50 for the daily and $6 on Sunday).

— james warren, The Hive, "Is The New York Times vs. The Washington Post vs. Trump the Last Great Newspaper War?," 2 Aug. 2017
Fossil-fuel opponents also have staged demonstrations at JPMorgan Chase branches all over Seattle, opposing lending to tar sands pipeline projects, including the TransMountain and Keystone XL pipelines.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "Seattle employees pension fund won’t divest from fossil fuels," 13 July 2017
The canal is highly branched nearest the tip of the snout.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Maybe This Presidency Is Not Unprecedented," 30 June 2017
Once ashore, these four-limbed vertebrates, called tetrapods, branched into an impressive range of animals: amphibians, reptiles, dinosaurs, birds and mammals.

— gemma tarlach, Discover Magazine, "Everything Worth Knowing About ... When We Left Water," 26 June 2017
So, why not branch out and experience the many ways to cook eggs?

— spoon u, Teen Vogue, "Best Ways to Cook Eggs," 24 June 2017
After sitting about three miles from the towers the amazing double branched upward lightning showed itself.

— kathryn prociv, Washington Post, "Pic of the week: Mother Nature raises the roof over Sioux Falls," 23 June 2017
Colonial suffered another leak in January on a branching pipe from its mainline that supplies gasoline to Nashville, Tennessee.

— laura blewitt, Bloomberg.com, "America's Most Popular Gasoline Pipeline Is Losing its Edge," 22 June 2017
That kind of branched off into a solo journey for music.

— rob owen, kansascity, "Lee’s Summit singer to compete on ABC’s ‘Boy Band’," 21 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of branch

see ¹branch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

branch Synonyms

Synonyms

radiate, fan (out), ray

Antonyms

concentrate, converge, focus, funnel, meet

Related Words

diffuse, dispel, disperse, dissipate; fork, stem; diverge, divide, part, ramify, separate, split, uncouple, unlink, unyoke; scatter, splay, spread; arise, derive, emanate, flow, issue, proceed, spring

Near Antonyms

approach, close in (on), near; center (on), centralize; connect, couple, join, link, unite

BRANCH Defined for English Language Learners

branch

play

noun

Definition of branch for English Language Learners

: 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

branch

verb

Definition of branch for English Language Learners

: to divide into smaller parts : to separate into branches

BRANCH Defined for Kids

branch

play

noun \ ˈbranch \

Definition of branch for Students

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

2 :something extending from a main line or body like a branch

a branch of a railroad

3 :a division or subordinate part of something

a branch of government

The bank opened a new branch.

—

branched

\ˈbrancht\ adjective

branch

verb

Definition of branch for Students

branched; branching

: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

branch

play

noun \ ˈbranch \

medical Definition of branch

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

play \ˈbrancht\ adjective

Law Dictionary

branch

noun

legal Definition of branch

: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

Learn More about branch

See words that rhyme with branch Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for branch Spanish Central: Translation of branch Nglish: Translation of branch for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of branch for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about branch

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up branch? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

branch

Definition of branch

branched

branchless

branchy

Explore M-W

Examples of branch in a Sentence

Recent Examples of branch from the Web

Origin and Etymology of branch

branch Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Other Botany Terms

branch

Definition of branch

Examples of branch in a Sentence

Recent Examples of branch from the Web

Origin and Etymology of branch

branch Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Phrases Related to BRANCH

Related Phrases

BRANCH Defined for English Language Learners

branch

Definition of branch for English Language Learners

branch

Definition of branch for English Language Learners

BRANCH Defined for Kids

branch

Definition of branch for Students

branched

branch

Definition of branch for Students

Medical Dictionary

branch

medical Definition of branch

branch

branched

Law Dictionary

branch

legal Definition of branch

Learn More about branch

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066