branch
[noun]
Synonyms:
- bough, arm, limb, offshoot, shoot, spray, sprig
- division, chapter, department, office, part, section, subdivision, subsection, wing

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Related Words: branchlet

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. branch¹ S2 W2 /brɑːntʃ $ bræntʃ/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: 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.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. branch² verb [intransitive]
to divide into two or more smaller, narrower, or less important parts ⇒ fork:
When you reach the village green, the street branches into two.
branch off phrasal verb

1. if a road, passage, railway etc branches off from another road etc, it separates from it and goes in a different direction Synonym : fork off
branch off from
a passage branching off from the main tunnel

2. British English to leave a main road Synonym : 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 phrasal verb
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) something
Profits were falling until the bookstore branched out into selling CDs.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

branch
noun
I. part of a tree
ADJ. top/topmost | low, overhanging Be careful of overhanging branches.
bare, dead the bare branches of a tree in winter

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

branch
II. part of a larger organization
ADJ. central, high street, local, overseas, regional
VERB + BRANCH establish, open, set up The store is opening more local branches.
close (down)
BRANCH + NOUN chairman, manager, member, office, representative, secretary
 ⇒ Special page at BUSINESS

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲