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 twig

The 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 area

The 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 verb

the 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 verb

the anti-terrorism branch of Scotland Yard

See:

Special Branch

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 knowledge

branch 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 past

branch of:

One branch of Jane's family lives in San Francisco.

5) a part of a river that leads away from the main part

branch 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
*

to divide into two or more parts

yellow flowers on branching stems

branch into:

The road branched into four paths.

Phrasal verbs:

- branch off

- branch out