branch

branch¹ W2S1 [bra:ntʃ US bræntʃ] n

↑branch, ↑leaves, ↑trunk

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1¦(of a tree)¦

2¦(of a business/shop/company etc)¦

3¦(of government)¦

4¦(of a subject)¦

5¦(of a family)¦

6¦(of a river/road etc)¦

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[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: branche, from Late Latin branca 'animal's foot']

1.) ¦(OF A TREE)¦

a part of a tree that grows out from the ↑trunk (=main stem) and that has leaves, fruit, or smaller branches growing from it

→↑limb

▪ After the storm, the ground was littered with twigs and branches.

▪ The topmost branches were full of birds.

2.) ¦(OF A BUSINESS/SHOP/COMPANY ETC)¦

a local business, shop etc that is part of a larger business etc

▪ The bank has branches all over the country.

▪ a branch office in Boston

▪ She now works in our Denver branch.

▪ Where's their nearest branch?

▪ They're planning to open a branch in St. Louis next year.

▪ Have you met our branch manager , Mr. Carlson?

3.) ¦(OF GOVERNMENT)¦

a part of a government or other organization that deals with one particular part of its work

→↑department

▪ All branches of government are having to cut costs.

the executive/judicial/legislative branch

(=the three main parts of the US government)

4.) ¦(OF A SUBJECT)¦

one part of a large subject of study or knowledge

→↑field

a branch of mathematics/physics/biology etc

5.) ¦(OF A FAMILY)¦

a group of members of a family who all have the same ↑ancestors

→↑side

▪ the wealthy South American branch of the family

6.) ¦(OF A RIVER/ROAD ETC)¦

a smaller less important part of a river, road, or railway that leads away from the larger more important part of it

▪ The rail company may have to close the branch line to Uckfield.

branch ²

branch² v

to divide into two or more smaller, narrower, or less important parts

→↑fork

▪ Another road branched northward.

▪ When you reach the village green, the street branches into two .

branch off [i]phr v

1.) if a road, passage, railway etc branches off from another road etc, it separates from it and goes in a different direction

= ↑fork off branch off from

▪ a passage branching off from the main tunnel

2.) BrE to leave a main road

= ↑fork off branch off from/into

▪ We branched off from the main road and turned down a country lane.

3.) to start talking about something different from what you were talking about before

branch off into

▪ Then the conversation branched off into a discussion about movies.

branch out phr v

to start doing something different from the work or activities that you normally do

▪ Don't be afraid to branch out and try something new.

branch out into (doing) sth

▪ Profits were falling until the bookstore branched out into selling CDs.