branch

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a local office or shop that belongs to a larger company or organization.

n. a local office or subdivision of a larger organization, such as a bank, library, or government agency.

“I need to go to the local branch of the bank to sign some papers.”

“The corporation decided to close its suburban branches to consolidate operations at the central downtown headquarters.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic

n. a specific area of study or a part of a large subject.

n. a specialized field or subdivision of a larger area of knowledge, science, or business.

“Botany is a branch of biology that focuses specifically on plants.”

“Quantum mechanics is a complex branch of physics that deals with the behavior of matter at the atomic level.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a separate version of a computer program or a set of code.

n. a version of a project in a version control system that deviates from the main line of development.

“The developer created a new branch to test the new features without breaking the main app.”

“After the bug was fixed in the experimental branch, the team merged the code back into the master repository.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to split into two or more different directions.

v. to divide or separate into subdivisions or different paths.

“The hiking trail branches into two paths near the waterfall.”

“The river branches into several smaller streams as it approaches the delta, creating a network of wetlands.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to start doing something new or different from your usual work.

v. to expand one's interests or activities into a new or different area.

“The restaurant started as a café but is now branching out into catering.”

“After years of writing historical fiction, the author decided to branch out into science fiction for her next series.”