n.; pl. Branches [ OE. braunche, F. branche, fr. LL. branca claw of a bird or beast of prey; cf. Armor. brank branch, bough. ] 1. (Bot.) A shoot or secondary stem growing from the main stem, or from a principal limb or bough of a tree or other plant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any division extending like a branch; any arm or part connected with the main body of thing; ramification; as, the branch of an antler; the branch of a chandelier; a branch of a river; a branch of a railway. [ 1913 Webster ]

Most of the branches , or streams, were dried up. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any member or part of a body or system; a distinct article; a section or subdivision; a department. “Branches of knowledge.” Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is a branch and parcel of mine oath. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Geom.) One of the portions of a curve that extends outwards to an indefinitely great distance; as, the branches of an hyperbola. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A line of family descent, in distinction from some other line or lines from the same stock; any descendant in such a line; as, the English branch of a family. [ 1913 Webster ]

His father, a younger branch of the ancient stock. Carew. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Naut.) A warrant or commission given to a pilot, authorizing him to pilot vessels in certain waters. [ 1913 Webster ]

Branches of a bridle, two pieces of bent iron, which bear the bit, the cross chains, and the curb. --
Branch herring. See Alewife. --
Root and branch , totally, wholly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Bough; limb; shoot; offshoot; twig; sprig. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Diverging from, or tributary to, a main stock, line, way, theme, etc.; as, a branch vein; a branch road or line; a branch topic; a branch store. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Branched p. pr. & vb. n. Branching. ] 1. To shoot or spread in branches; to separate into branches; to ramify. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To divide into separate parts or subdivision. [ 1913 Webster ]

To branch off, to form a branch or a separate part; to diverge. --
To branch out, to speak diffusively; to extend one's discourse to other topics than the main one; also, to enlarge the scope of one's business, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

To branch out into a long disputation. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To divide as into branches; to make subordinate division in. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To adorn with needlework representing branches, flowers, or twigs. [ 1913 Webster ]

The train whereof loose far behind her strayed,
Branched with gold and pearl, most richly wrought. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. resembling a fork; divided or separated into two branches; as, long branched hairs on its legs, on which pollen collects.
Syn. -- bifurcate, biramous, forked, pronged, prongy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. same as branching, a.. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. That which shoots forth branches; one who shows growth in various directions. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Falconry) A young hawk when it begins to leave the nest and take to the branches. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A system of branches. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Branchiæ [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_;, pl. of &unr_;. ] (Anat.) A gill; a respiratory organ for breathing the air contained in water, such as many aquatic and semiaquatic animals have. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to branchiæ or gills. [ 1913 Webster ]

Branchial arches, the bony or cartilaginous arches which support the gills on each side of the throat of fishes and amphibians. See Illustration in Appendix. --
Branchial clefts, the openings between the branchial arches through which water passes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Furnished with branchiæ; as, branchiate segments. [ 1913 Webster ]