Branch word meaning and definition

[noun] any projection that is thought to resemble an arm; "the arm of the record player"; "an arm of the sea"; "a branch of the sewer"
[noun] an administrative division of some larger or more complex organization; "a branch of Congress"
[noun] a stream or river connected to a larger one
[noun] a natural consequence of development
[noun] a division of a stem, or secondary stem arising from the main stem of a plant
[noun] a part of a forked or branching shape; "he broke off one of the branches"; "they took the south fork"
[verb] divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork; "The road forks"
[verb] grow and send out branches or branch-like structures; "these plants ramify early and get to be very large"

\Branch\, n.; pl. {Branches}. [OE. braunche, F. branche, fr. LL. branca claw of a bird or beast of prey; cf. Armor. brank branch, bough.] 1. (Bot.) A shoot or secondary stem growing from the main stem, or from a principal limb or bough of a tree or other plant. 2. Any division extending like a branch; any arm or part connected with the main body of thing; ramification; as, the branch of an antler; the branch of a chandelier; a branch of a river; a branch of a railway. Most of the branches, or streams, were dried up. --W. Irving. 3. Any member or part of a body or system; a distinct article; a section or subdivision; a department. ``Branches of knowledge.'' --Prescott. It is a branch and parcel of mine oath. --Shak. 4. (Geom.) One of the portions of a curve that extends outwards to an indefinitely great distance; as, the branches of an hyperbola. 5. A line of family descent, in distinction from some other line or lines from the same stock; any descendant in such a line; as, the English branch of a family. His father, a younger branch of the ancient stock. --Carew. 6. (Naut.) A warrant or commission given to a pilot, authorizing him to pilot vessels in certain waters. {Branches of a bridle}, two pieces of bent iron, which bear the bit, the cross chains, and the curb. {Branch herring}. See {Alewife}. {Root and branch}, totally, wholly. Syn: Bough; limb; shoot; offshoot; twig; sprig.
\Branch\, a. Diverging from, or tributary to, a main stock, line, way, theme, etc.; as, a branch vein; a branch road or line; a branch topic; a branch store.
\Branch\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Branched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Branching}.] 1. To shoot or spread in branches; to separate into branches; to ramify. 2. To divide into separate parts or subdivision. {To branch off}, to form a branch or a separate part; to diverge. {To branch out}, to speak diffusively; to extend one's discourse to other topics than the main one; also, to enlarge the scope of one's business, etc. To branch out into a long disputation. --Spectator.
\Branch\, v. t. 1. To divide as into branches; to make subordinate division in. 2. To adorn with needlework representing branches, flowers, or twigs. The train whereof loose far behind her strayed, Branched with gold and pearl, most richly wrought. --Spenser.

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