branch noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of branch noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

branch

noun
 
 
/brɑːntʃ/
 
/bræntʃ/
Idioms
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    of tree

  1.  
     a part of a tree that grows out from the main stem and on which leaves, flowers and fruit grow
    • She climbed the tree and hid in the branches.
    • the bare branches of a tree in winter
    see also olive branchTopics Plants and treesb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • top
    • topmost
    • low
    • …
    verb + branch
    • cut
    • prune
    • remove
    • …
    See full entry
    2.

    of company

  2.  
     a local office or shop belonging to a large company or organization
    • The bank has branches all over the country.
    • Our New York branch is dealing with the matter.
    • The store is opening more local branches.
    • He has been named assistant branch manager at a new branch of the bank.
    • the Post Office announced plans to close another branch.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • central
    • high-street
    • local
    • …
    verb + branch
    • establish
    • open
    • set up
    • …
    branch + noun
    • chairman
    • chief
    • manager
    • …
    See full entry
    3.

    of government

  3.  
     a part of a government or other large organization that deals with one particular aspect of its work synonym department
    • Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch swung into action.
    • The idea was so popular, other branches of government copied it.
    • She was national branch secretary of the union.
    see also executive branch, judicial branch, legislative branch
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • central
    • high-street
    • local
    • …
    verb + branch
    • establish
    • open
    • set up
    • …
    branch + noun
    • chairman
    • chief
    • manager
    • …
    See full entry
    4.

    of knowledge

  4.  
     a division of an area of knowledge or a group of languages
    • the branch of computer science known as ‘artificial intelligence’
    Extra Examples
    • Quantum analysis is a branch of statistics.
    • The aim is to bring together researchers from different branches of geography.
    5.

    of river/road

  5. a smaller or less important part of a river, road, railway, etc. that leads away from the main part
    • a branch of the Rhine
    • a branch line (= a small line off a main railway line, often in country areas)
    Topics Transport by bus and trainc1, Geographyc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • top
    • topmost
    • low
    • …
    verb + branch
    • cut
    • prune
    • remove
    • …
    See full entry
    6.

    of family

  6. a group of members of a family who all have the same ancestors
    • My uncle's branch of the family emigrated to Canada.
    Wordfinder
    Topics Family and relationshipsc1
    7. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French branche, from late Latin branca ‘paw’.
Idioms
root and branch
  1. completely and in a way that affects every part of something
    • The government set out to destroy the organization root and branch.
    • root-and-branch reforms
See branch in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee branch in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: branch

Nearby words

influence
verb
 
 
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