Branching

a division or subdivision of the stem or axis of a tree, shrub, or other plant.
a limb, offshoot, or ramification of any main stem:
the branches of a deer’s antlers.
any member or part of a body or system; a section or subdivision:
the various branches of learning.
a local operating division of a business, library, or the like.
a line of family descent stemming from a particular ancestor, as distinguished from some other line or lines from the same stock; a division of a family.
a tributary stream or any stream that is not a large river or a bayou.
Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. branch water (def 2).
Linguistics. (in the classification of related languages within a family) a category of a lower order than a subfamily and of a higher order than a subbranch or a group, as the Germanic branch of Indo-European.
Compare group (def 4a).
Computers. a point in a computer program where the computer selects one of two or more instructions to execute, according to some criterion.
Nautical. a warrant or license permitting a pilot to navigate in certain waters.
to put forth branches; spread in branches.
to divide into separate parts or subdivisions; diverge:
The main road branches off to the left.
to expand or extend, as business activities:
The bank has plans to branch throughout the state.
to divide into branches or sections.
to adorn with needlework; decorate with embroidery, as in textile fabrics.
branch out, to expand or extend, as business activities, pursuits, interests, etc.:
The business is branching out into computers.
Contemporary Examples

The Economy of the Aging Sex Kitten Nicole LaPorte November 14, 2010
Street Wear Brand Hood by Air Makes Fashion Week Debut Misty White Sidell February 10, 2013
High Rents Are Killing the Restaurant Capital Will Doig October 27, 2014
The Real Monuments Men: The Coronation Chamber of Hitler Robert Edsel February 5, 2014
Kate Upton Lands Second Vogue Cover; Lena Dunham Does Twiggy The Fashion Beast Team December 5, 2012

Historical Examples

A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis James Campbell Todd
Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology John. B. Smith
ABC of Gardening Eben Eugene Rexford
The Mind and Its Education George Herbert Betts
The Sea-beach at Ebb-tide Augusta Foote Arnold

noun
(physics) the occurrence of several decay paths (branches) in the disintegration of a particular nuclide or the de-excitation of an excited atom. The branching fraction (nuclear) or branching ratio (atomic) is the proportion of the disintegrating nuclei that follow a particular branch to the total number of disintegrating nuclides
noun
a secondary woody stem arising from the trunk or bough of a tree or the main stem of a shrub
a subdivision of the stem or root of any other plant
an offshoot or secondary part: a branch of a deer’s antlers

a subdivision or subsidiary section of something larger or more complex: branches of learning, branch of the family
(as modifier): a branch office

(US) any small stream
(maths) a section of a curve separated from the rest of the curve by discontinuities or special points
(computing) Also called jump. a departure from the normal sequence of programmed instructions into a separate program area
an alternative route in an atomic or nuclear decay series
verb
(intransitive) (of a tree or other plant) to produce or possess branches
(intransitive) usually foll by from. (of stems, roots, etc) to grow and diverge (from another part)
to divide or be divided into subsidiaries or offshoots
(intransitive) often foll by off. to diverge from the main way, road, topic, etc
n.
v.

branch off
branch out