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 sense 1

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 curve entry 3 sense 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 family entry 1 sense 5c) the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family

Definition of branch

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