branch
    n 1: a division of some larger or more complex organization; "a
         branch of Congress"; "botany is a branch of biology"; "the
         Germanic branch of Indo-European languages" [syn: branch,
         subdivision, arm]
    2: a division of a stem, or secondary stem arising from the main
       stem of a plant
    3: a part of a forked or branching shape; "he broke off one of
       the branches" [syn: branch, leg, ramification]
    4: a natural consequence of development [syn: outgrowth,
       branch, offshoot, offset]
    5: a stream or river connected to a larger one
    6: any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm; "the
       arm of the record player"; "an arm of the sea"; "a branch of
       the sewer" [syn: arm, branch, limb]
    v 1: grow and send out branches or branch-like structures;
         "these plants ramify early and get to be very large" [syn:
         ramify, branch]
    2: divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork; "The
       road forks" [syn: branch, ramify, fork, furcate,
       separate]

Branch \Branch\, v. t.
   1. To divide as into branches; to make subordinate division
      in.
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   2. To adorn with needlework representing branches, flowers,
      or twigs.
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            The train whereof loose far behind her strayed,
            Branched with gold and pearl, most richly wrought.
                                                  --Spenser.
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Branch \Branch\, 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.
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   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.
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            Most of the branches, or streams, were dried up.
                                                  --W. Irving.
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   3. Any member or part of a body or system; a distinct
      article; a section or subdivision; a department. "Branches
      of knowledge." --Prescott.
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            It is a branch and parcel of mine oath. --Shak.
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   4. (Geom.) One of the portions of a curve that extends
      outwards to an indefinitely great distance; as, the
      branches of an hyperbola.
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   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.
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            His father, a younger branch of the ancient stock.
                                                  --Carew.
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   6. (Naut.) A warrant or commission given to a pilot,
      authorizing him to pilot vessels in certain waters.
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   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.
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   Syn: Bough; limb; shoot; offshoot; twig; sprig.
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Branch \Branch\, 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.
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Branch \Branch\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Branched; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Branching.]
   1. To shoot or spread in branches; to separate into branches;
      to ramify.
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   2. To divide into separate parts or subdivision.
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   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.
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            To branch out into a long disputation. --Spectator.
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branch

   1.  An edge in a tree.

   2.  A jump.

Branch
   a symbol of kings descended from royal ancestors (Ezek. 17:3,
   10; Dan. 11:7); of prosperity (Job 8:16); of the Messiah, a
   branch out of the root of the stem of Jesse (Isa. 11:1), the
   "beautiful branch" (4:2), a "righteous branch" (Jer. 23:5), "the
   Branch" (Zech. 3:8; 6:12).
   
     Disciples are branches of the true vine (John 15:5, 6). "The
   branch of the terrible ones" (Isa. 25:5) is rightly translated
   in the Revised Version "the song of the terrible ones," i.e.,
   the song of victory shall be brought low by the destruction of
   Babylon and the return of the Jews from captivity.
   
     The "abominable branch" is a tree on which a malefactor has
   been hanged (Isa. 14:19). The "highest branch" in Ezek. 17:3
   represents Jehoiakim the king.
   

BRANCH. This is a metaphorical expression, which designates, in the 
genealogy of a numerous family, a portion of that family which has sprang 
from the same root or stock; these latter expressions, like the first, are 
also metaphorical. 
     2. The whole of a genealogy is often called the genealogical tree; and 
sometimes it is made to take the form of a tree, which is in the first place 
divided into as many branches as there are children, afterwards into as many 
branches as there are grand-children, then of great grandchildren, &c. If, 
for example, it be desired to have a genealogical tree of Peter's family, 
Peter will be made the trunk of the tree; if he has had two children, John 
and James, their names will be written on the first two branches; which will 
themselves shoot out as many smaller branches as John and James have 
children; from these other's proceed, till the whole family is represented 
on the tree; thus the origin, the application, and the use of the word 
branch in genealogy will be at once perceived. 

Branch -- U.S. County in Michigan
   Population (2000):    45787
   Housing Units (2000): 19822
   Land area (2000):     507.412060 sq. miles (1314.191146 sq. km)
   Water area (2000):    12.078135 sq. miles (31.282225 sq. km)
   Total area (2000):    519.490195 sq. miles (1345.473371 sq. km)
   Located within:       Michigan (MI), FIPS 26
   Location:             41.926246 N, 85.051147 W
   Headwords:
    Branch
    Branch, MI
    Branch County
    Branch County, MI

Branch, AR -- U.S. city in Arkansas
   Population (2000):    357
   Housing Units (2000): 155
   Land area (2000):     3.565727 sq. miles (9.235191 sq. km)
   Water area (2000):    0.001730 sq. miles (0.004480 sq. km)
   Total area (2000):    3.567457 sq. miles (9.239671 sq. km)
   FIPS code:            08440
   Located within:       Arkansas (AR), FIPS 05
   Location:             35.308482 N, 93.955690 W
   ZIP Codes (1990):     72928
   Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
   Headwords:
    Branch, AR
    Branch