branch out

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

branch out verb

1. (intr, adverb) often followed by into: to expand or extend one's interests

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

branch /bræntʃ/   n. 

[countable]
1. Botany an armlike division of the stem of a tree or shrub:
   The branches of oak trees form a V-shape.
2. a limb, section, or division of a main system:
   the branches of a deer's antlers; the branches of the armed forces.
3. a local division of a business, library, or other organization:
   The bank has several branches in your neighborhood.

v. [no object]

4. to put forth branches;
   spread in branches:
   These trees branch at heights of fifteen feet.
5. [~ + off] to divide into separate parts;
   diverge:
   The road branches off to the left.
6. branch out, [no object] to expand or extend in new directions:
   [The company branched out into electronics and computers.]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

branch  (branch, bränch), n. 

1. Botany a division or subdivision of the stem or axis of a tree, shrub, or other plant.
2. a limb, offshoot, or ramification of any main stem:
   the branches of a deer's antlers.
3. any member or part of a body or system;
   a section or subdivision:
   the various branches of learning.
4. a local operating division of a business, library, or the like.
5. 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.
6. Geology a tributary stream or any stream that is not a large river or a bayou.
7. Dialect Terms [Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.] See branch water (def. 2).
8. 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. Cf. group (def. 4a).
9. Computing a point in a computer program where the computer selects one of two or more instructions to execute, according to some criterion.
10. Nautical, Naval Terms a warrant or license permitting a pilot to navigate in certain waters.

v.i. 

11. to put forth branches;
    spread in branches.
12. to divide into separate parts or subdivisions;
    diverge:
    The main road branches off to the left.
13. to expand or extend, as business activities:
    The bank has plans to branch throughout the state.

v.t. 

14. to divide into branches or sections.
15. Clothing, Textiles to adorn with needlework;
    decorate with embroidery, as in textile fabrics.
16. branch out, to expand or extend, as business activities, pursuits, interests, etc.:
    The business is branching out into computers.

• Late Latin branca paw, of uncertain origin, originally
• Anglo-French; Old French branche
• Middle English bra(u)nche 1250–1300

branch′less, adj. 
branch′like′, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. offshoot, shoot.
  Branch, bough, limb refer to divisions of a tree.
  Branch is general, meaning either a large or a small division.
  Bough refers only to the larger branches:
  a bough loaded with apples.
  A limb is a large primary division of a tree trunk or of a bough:
  to climb out on a limb.
• 12. ramify, subdivide.