brɑ:ntʃ n. & v. --n. 1 a limb extending
from a
tree or
bough. 2 a
lateral extension or
subdivision,
esp. of a
river, road, or
railway. 3 a
conceptual extension or subdivision, as of a
family,
knowledge, etc. 4 a
local division or
office etc. of a
large business, as of a bank,
library, etc. --v.intr. (often foll. by off) 1
diverge from
the main
part. 2
divide into branches. øbranch
out extend one's
field of
interest. øøbranched adj. branchlet n. branchlike adj. branchy adj. [ME f. OF branche f. LL branca paw]