- branch
- I UK [brɑːntʃ] / US [bræntʃ]
noun [countable]
Word forms "branch":
singular branch plural branches
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1) a part of a tree that grows out of its trunk (= main stem) with leaves, flowers, or fruit growing on it. A very small branch is called a twigThe wind rustled the bare branches of the trees.
There was a bird perched on the topmost branch.
2) a shop or office representing a large company or organization in a particular areaThe store has branches in over 50 cities.
a branch manager
a) the members of an organization, club, or political party in a particular area: can be followed by a singular or plural verbthe president of the Glasgow branch of the AA
the branch secretary/treasurer
b) a department that performs a particular job or has a particular responsibility: can be followed by a singular or plural verbthe anti-terrorism branch of Scotland Yard
See:c) a part of the government with a particular responsibility. The three branches of government are the legislative branch (= the parliament that makes laws), the executive branch (= the president or ministers who govern according to those laws), and the judicial branch (= the judges and courts who make certain that the laws are used correctly).3) a part of a particular area of study or knowledgebranch of:Mechanics is a branch of physics.
the branch of medicine that treats ailments of the stomach
4) a section of a family who are all related to one person who lived in the pastbranch of:One branch of Jane's family lives in San Francisco.
5) a part of a river that leads away from the main partbranch of:the larger branches of the Mekong River
II UK [brɑːntʃ] / US [bræntʃ] verb [intransitive]
Word forms "branch":
present tense I/you/we/they branch he/she/it branches present participle branching past tense branched past participle branched
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to divide into two or more partsbranch into:yellow flowers on branching stems
Phrasal verbs:The road branched into four paths.
English dictionary. 2014.