branch
branch
Pronunciation
branch /brɑːntʃ/ (Received Pronunciation) or /bræntʃ/ (General American)
bra - /brɑː/ or /bræ/
nch - /ntʃ/
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: branch
Plural Noun: branches
Present Tense Verb (3rd Person Singular): branches
Present Participle Verb: branching
Past Tense Verb: branched
Past Participle Verb: branched
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A woody extension growing from the trunk or a main limb of a tree or shrub.
Synonyms: bough, limb, offshoot, shoot, sprig
Antonyms: trunk (in the context of the main support of a tree), root (though a branch can also be a root-like structure, in the typical tree context it's an antonym)
A division or subdivision of a main system, organization, or family, typically extending from the main body but still connected to it.
Synonyms: division, section, department, arm, subsidiary, offshoot, local
Antonyms: main body, core, headquarters, trunk (metaphorical)
A natural flowing body of water that extends from a larger river or stream, often smaller in size.
Synonyms: tributary, distributary, fork, arm, offshoot, creek
Antonyms: main river, source
A line of descent or a part of a family's lineage that has diverged from the main line.
Synonyms: lineage, offshoot, division, arm, descendant
Antonyms: main line, ancestor, root (metaphorical)
Verb
To divide into two or more parts or sections, especially when extending from a common origin.
Synonyms: diverge, bifurcate, divide, fork, separate, radiate
Antonyms: converge, join, unite, merge
To extend or spread out from a central point or origin.
Synonyms: extend, spread, stretch, fan out, radiate
Antonyms: retract, contract, recede
Examples of Use
Books:
"He remembered the old oak tree in the backyard, its lowest branch a perfect perch for reading on summer afternoons." (From a work of fiction, illustrating the noun sense of a tree part.)
"The novel explores a fascinating branch of quantum physics, delving into the concept of parallel universes." (From a non-fiction book on science, demonstrating the noun sense of a subdivision of a field.)
Newspapers:
"The bank announced it would open a new branch in downtown Nairobi next quarter, expanding its regional presence." (From a news article about business, showing the noun sense of a subsidiary location; Business Daily Africa).
"Negotiations over the new trade agreement continue to branch out into unforeseen complexities, requiring further diplomatic effort." (From an editorial piece, using the verb sense of dividing or spreading out; The Standard).
Online Publications:
"Our website includes a dedicated branch for customer support, offering FAQs and direct contact options." (From a company's "About Us" page, using the noun sense of a section or division).
"The recent archaeological discovery causes scientists to branch out into new theories regarding early human migration." (From an online science journal, using the verb sense of extending or spreading ideas; Nature News).
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In a nature documentary like Planet Earth, a narrator might say, "A leopard stealthily climbed onto a sturdy branch, seeking its prey below." (Illustrating the noun sense of a tree part).
Television Series: In a police procedural, a character might state, "Detective Mburu, you'll be heading up the new cold case branch of the DCI." (Demonstrating the noun sense of a division of an organization).
Music Lyrics: A gospel song might include the line, "From this sturdy old root, a new branch will grow." (Using the noun sense metaphorically for a new development or offshoot).
Video Games: In a role-playing game like The Witcher 3, a quest description might read: "Follow the path that branches off to the west, towards the abandoned village." (Using the verb sense of diverging).
General Public Discourse:
"After college, I decided to branch out and explore different career paths before settling on one." (A common conversational use of the verb, meaning to diversify or explore new areas).
"My family has a branch that emigrated to the UK several generations ago." (A common conversational use of the noun, referring to a part of a family lineage).
"Be careful, that tree branch looks like it's about to break after that storm." (A common everyday use of the noun, referring to a part of a tree).
10 Quotes Using Branch
"The best way to keep a branch of the government in check is to keep it in fear of the people." (Thomas Jefferson)
"Every branch of knowledge has its root in the human mind." (Carl Jung)
"Hope is a branch of faith." (Saint Augustine)
"One of the things that I was always interested in was how you could use different types of media to tell stories, and how you could use different branch points to allow people to participate in the storytelling." (Ava DuVernay)
"A small branch of the government is better than a large one." (Unknown, often attributed to various proponents of limited government)
"There is nothing in the world so much like a man's own mind as a tree. From the same root, and in the same soil, it raises a branch and a blossom, and a fruit." (Henry Ward Beecher)
"Life is a great tree, and we are but a small branch of it." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"Justice, sir, is the great interest of man on earth. It is the ligament which holds civilized beings and civilized nations together. Wherever her temple stands, and so long as it is duly honored, there is a branch of peace and prosperity for all." (Daniel Webster)
"If you are a student of life, and you really want to find the answers to all the questions of life, you have to find them in the spiritual branch of life, not the material." (Mata Amritanandamayi)
"The branch of the human race that has been most successful has been the one that has been the most cooperative." (Yuval Noah Harari)
Etymology
The word "branch" has a fascinating journey through languages!
It entered English during the Middle English period, which was roughly between 1150 and 1500. The earliest known use of the noun "branch" that we have evidence for is from the year 1297, found in "Robert of Gloucester's Chronicle."
It was borrowed directly from Old French word "branche." Before that, it came from the Late Latin word "branca."
Here's where it gets really interesting: originally, "branca" in Late Latin didn't mean a tree branch at all! It meant "footprint" and later "claw" or "paw."
So, how did we get from "paw" to "tree branch"? The connection is thought to be about shape. Imagine a bird's footprint, or an animal's paw with its toes spreading out. That spreading, dividing shape was then used figuratively to describe how a tree's stem or trunk splits and spreads into smaller parts, like a branch.
Essentially, the word "branch" in English replaced an older native English word, "bough." Over time, "branch" expanded its meanings to include other things that divide or extend from a main body, like a division of an organization, a part of a family, or a tributary of a river. The verb "to branch" (meaning to spread out or divide) came from the noun.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Branch
Branch out: To expand into new areas of interest, business, or activity.
Olive branch: A symbol or offer of peace.
To go out on a limb/branch: To put oneself in a risky or vulnerable position to support someone or something.
The long arm of the law (not directly "branch," but similar "extension"): The far-reaching power and influence of legal authority.
To break a branch: (Less common, but implies causing damage or disruption to a part of something, or making a significant change.)
A new branch of thought/inquiry: A new direction or area of study or consideration.
To branch off: To separate from a main route or course; to diverge.
To prune a branch: (Literal for trees, but can be metaphorical for cutting back unnecessary parts of an organization or project.)
Slippery as a wet branch: (An original phrase, meaning very difficult to hold onto or grasp, either literally or figuratively.)
Sprouting new branches: (Often used metaphorically for growth, development, or the creation of new divisions or ideas from an existing base.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of branch from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
