a part of a tree which grows out from the trunk or from a bough 树枝;分枝,枝 ■a lateral extension or subdivision extending from the main part of something, typically one extending from a river, road, or railway (尤指河流、公路或铁路的)支流,支路,支线 ■a division or office of a large business or organization, operating locally or having a particular function (企业或机构的)分部,分行 he went to work at our Birmingham branch. 他去我们的伯明翰分部工作了。 ■a conceptual subdivision of something, especially a family, group of languages, or a subject (尤指家族、语言或学科的)分支,语支;分科 a branch of mathematics called graph theory. 一个称为图论的数学分科。
verb [noobj.]
(of a road or path) divide into one or more subdivisions 分支;分岔,分叉 follow this track south until it branches into two. 沿这条小路往南直到岔道口。 ■(of a tree or plant) bear or send out branches (树或植物)出枝 [as adj. branched]the common sea lavender can be identified by its branched stem. 可从抽了枝的树干辨认普通海生薰衣草。 ■(branch off)diverge from the main route or part 分叉 the road branched off at the market town. 这条路在集镇那儿分了叉。 ■(branch out)extend or expand one's activities or interests in a new direction 扩大活动(或兴趣)范围 the company is branching out into Europe. 该公司正把业务扩展到欧洲。