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 learning.
4. a local operating division of a business, library, or the like.
5. a line of family descent stemming from a particular ancestor, as distinguished from some other line or lines from the same stock; a division of a family.
6. a tributary stream or any stream that is not a large river or a bayou.
7. branch water (def. 2).
8. (in the classification of related languages within a family) a category of a lower order than a subfamily and of a higher order than a subbranch or a group, as 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.
10. a warrant or license permitting a pilot to navigate in certain waters.

11. to put forth branches; spread in branches.
12. to divide into separate parts or subdivisions; diverge: The main road branches off to the left.
13. to expand or extend, as business activities: The bank has plans to branch throughout the state.

14. to divide into branches or sections.
15. to adorn with needlework; decorate with embroidery, as in textile fabrics.

16. to expand or extend, as business activities, pursuits, interests, etc.: The business is branching out into computers.

1. a combining form for forming nouns and adjectives that denote gill formations or animals having gill formations.

1. a secondary woody stem arising from the trunk or bough of a tree or the main stem of a shrub
2. a subdivision of the stem or root of any other plant
3. an offshoot or secondary part
• a subdivision or subsidiary section of something larger or more complex
• (as modifier)
5. any small stream
6. a section of a curve separated from the rest of the curve by discontinuities or special points
7. a departure from the normal sequence of programmed instructions into a separate program area
8. an alternative route in an atomic or nuclear decay series

9. (of a tree or other plant) to produce or possess branches
10. (of stems, roots, etc) to grow and diverge (from another part)
11. to divide or be divided into subsidiaries or offshoots
12. to diverge from the main way, road, topic, etc

1. (in zoology) indicating gills

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• PYROCHEMICAL (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples
• INDIAN MUTINY (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples