1. [n]  any projection that is thought to resemble an arm; "the arm of the record player"; "an arm of the sea"; "a branch of the sewer"
2. [n]  an administrative division of some larger or more complex organization; "a branch of Congress"
3. [n]  a stream or river connected to a larger one
4. [n]  a natural consequence of development
5. [n]  a division of a stem, or secondary stem arising from the main stem of a plant
6. [n]  a part of a forked or branching shape; "he broke off one of the branches"; "they took the south fork"
7. [v]  divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork; "The road forks"
8. [v]  grow and send out branches or branch-like structures; "these plants ramify early and get to be very large"

1. \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.
   
   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.
   
            Most of the branches, or streams, were dried up.
                                                  --W. Irving.
   
   3. Any member or part of a body or system; a distinct
      article; a section or subdivision; a department.
      ``Branches of knowledge.'' --Prescott.
   
            It is a branch and parcel of mine oath. --Shak.
   
   4. (Geom.) One of the portions of a curve that extends
      outwards to an indefinitely great distance; as, the
      branches of an hyperbola.
   
   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.
   
            His father, a younger branch of the ancient stock.
                                                  --Carew.
   
   6. (Naut.) A warrant or commission given to a pilot,
      authorizing him to pilot vessels in certain waters.
   
   {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.
   
   Syn: Bough; limb; shoot; offshoot; twig; sprig.
   
   

2. \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.
   
   

3. \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.
   
   2. To divide into separate parts or subdivision.
   
   {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.
   
            To branch out into a long disputation. --Spectator.
   
   

4. \Branch\, v. t.
   1. To divide as into branches; to make subordinate division
      in.
   
   2. To adorn with needlework representing branches, flowers,
      or twigs.
   
            The train whereof loose far behind her strayed,
            Branched with gold and pearl, most richly wrought.
                                                  --Spenser.
   
   

1. An edge in a tree.

2. A jump.

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.