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branch
(redirected from branches)

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.04 sec.
branch  (brnch)
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 U.S. See creek. See Regional 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. Computer Science
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.
v. branched, branch·ing, branch·es
v.intr.
1. To put forth a branch or branches; spread by dividing.
2.
a. 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.
b. To enlarge the scope of one's interests, business, or activities: branch out from physics into related fields.
3. Computer Science 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 or as if into branches.
2. To embroider (something) with a design of foliage or flowers.

[Middle English, from Old French branche, from Late Latin branca, paw, perhaps of Celtic origin.]

branchless adj.
branchy 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.

branch [brɑːntʃ]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) a secondary woody stem arising from the trunk or bough of a tree or the main stem of a shrub
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / 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. (Earth Sciences / 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. (Electronics & Computer Science / Computer Science) Also called jump Computing a departure from the normal sequence of programmed instructions into a separate program area
8. (Physics / Nuclear Physics) an alternative route in an atomic or nuclear decay series
vb
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) (intr) (of a tree or other plant) to produce or possess branches
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) (intr; usually foll by from) (of stems, roots, etc.) to grow and diverge (from another part)
3. to divide or be divided into subsidiaries or offshoots
4. (intr; often foll by off) to diverge from the main way, road, topic, etc See also branch out
[from Old French branche, from Late Latin branca paw, foot]
branchless  adj
branchlike  adj
branchy  adj

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.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
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
crotch, 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.branchbranch - 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 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"

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.
Translations
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

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 à
branch line nligne f secondaire
branch manager n [bank] → directeur/trice m/f d'agence; [shop] → directeur/trice m/f de succursale

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

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

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

branch
n branch [braːntʃ]
1 an arm-like part of a tree He cut some branches off the oak tree. tak غصن клон větev gren der Ast κλαδί rama oks شاخه oksa branche עָנַף शाखा grana ág cabang trjágrein ramo 가지 šaka zars dahan tak grein gałąź ramo ramură ветка vetva veja grana gren, kvist กิ่งก้าน dal 樹枝 гілка ٹہنی ، شاخ ، ڈالی cành cây
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. tak فرع филиал pobočka; boční filial; afdeling; tilslutnings- Zweig-...; Neben-... υποκατάστημα, παράρτημα, παρακλάδι sucursal haru(-) شعبه؛ انشعاب haara succursale, ligne secondaire סְנִיף शाखा odvojak ág(azat), elágazás cabang grein; deild; útibú succursale, filiale; diramazione 支店 지점 atšaka, filialas filiāle; atzars; nozarojums cawangan filiaal; zij-, bij- filial; side- filia divisão sucursală; linie secundară филиал; ответвление pobočka; vedľajší podružnica, vzporedna proga ogranak filial, bibana สิ่งที่แตกสาขาออกมา kol, şube 分枝 філія, відділення شاخ nhánh
v
(usually without/off) to spread out like, or into, a branch or branches The road to the coast branches off here. vertak يتفرع разклонявам се rozvětvovat se forgrene sig; dreje af sich(ab-,ver-) zweigen διακλαδώνομαι ramificarse hargnema به چند شاخه تقسیم شدن erkaantua bifurquer לְהִסתָעֵף विभाजित होना granati se elágazik greinast, skiptast ramificarsi, biforcarsi 分岐する 갈라지다, 분기하다 išsišakoti atzaroties; sazaroties bercabang zich vertakken, zich afsplitsen forgreine seg, dele seg rozgałęziać się ramificar a se bifurca разветвляться rozvetvovať sa razcepiti se razgranati se expandera, förgrena sig, vika av แตกแขนง ayrılmak 分叉 відгалужуватися, відходити شاخین نکالنا ، پھیلنا phân nhánh; chia ngả

branch فرع větev filial Zweig κλαδί rama oksa branche ogranak ramo 가지 tak gren gałąź galho ветвь filial สาขา dal cành cây 分枝


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