branched, branching Definition

branch
noun branches

1. An offshoot arising from the trunk of a tree or the main stem of a shrub.

Thesaurus: bough, limb, sprig, twig, offshoot, bud.
2. A main division of a railway line, river, road or mountain range.
3. A local office of a large company or organization.

Thesaurus: outpost, chapter (US), office, bureau, department, subsidiary.
4. A subdivision or section in a family, subject, group of languages, etc.

Example: works in a branch of geography called biogeography

verb, intr branched, branching

1. To divide from the main part.

Example: a road branching off to the left
2. To send out branches, or spread out from it as a branch or branches.

Form: branch out (sometimes)
Form: branch out from something

Derivative: branched
adj

Derivative: branching
adj, noun

Derivative: branchless
adj

Derivative: branchy
adj

Etymology: 14c: from French branche, from Latin branca an animal's paw.

Phrasal Verb: branch out or branch out into something

To develop different interests or projects, etc; to expand or diversify.