Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - branch

(branches, branching, branched) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. The branches of a tree are the parts that grow out from its trunk and have leaves, flowers, or fruit growing on them. N-COUNT 2. A branch of a business or other organization is one of the offices, shops, or groups which belong to it and which are located in different places. The local branch of Bank of America is handling the accounts... National is Britain’s leading autocare service with over 400 branches nationwide. N-COUNT: oft N of n 3. A branch of an organization such as the government or the police force is a department that has a particular function. Senate employees could take their employment grievances to another branch of government... He had a fascination for submarines and joined this branch of the service. ...the Metropolitan Police Special Branch. N-COUNT: with supp, oft N of n, adj N 4. A branch of a subject is a part or type of it. Oncology is the branch of medicine dealing with tumors. N-COUNT: N of n 5. A branch of your family is a group of its members who are descended from one particular person. This is one of the branches of the Roosevelt family. N-COUNT: usu N of n