Noun | 1. | branch - an administrative division of some larger or more complex organization; "a branch of Congress" Synonyms: arm, subdivision |
2. | branch - a division of a stem, or secondary stem arising from the main stem of a plant | |
3. | branch - a part of a forked or branching shape; "he broke off one of the branches"; "they took the south fork" | |
4. | branch - a natural consequence of development | |
5. | branch - a stream or river connected to a larger one | |
6. | branch - 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" | |
Verb | 1. | branch - grow and send out branches or branch-like structures; "these plants ramify early and get to be very large" Synonyms: ramify |
2. | branch - divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork; "The road forks" |
BRANCH. This is a metaphorical expression, which designates, in the
genealogy of a numerous family, a portion of that family which has sprang
from the same root or stock; these latter expressions, like the first, are
also metaphorical.
2. The whole of a genealogy is often called the genealogical tree; and
sometimes it is made to take the form of a tree, which is in the first place
divided into as many branches as there are children, afterwards into as many
branches as there are grand-children, then of great grandchildren, &c. If,
for example, it be desired to have a genealogical tree of Peter's family,
Peter will be made the trunk of the tree; if he has had two children, John
and James, their names will be written on the first two branches; which will
themselves shoot out as many smaller branches as John and James have
children; from these other's proceed, till the whole family is represented
on the tree; thus the origin, the application, and the use of the word
branch in genealogy will be at once perceived.
1. | (mathematics) | branch - An edge in a tree. | |
2. | (programming) | branch - A jump. |