Branch

From Free net encyclopedia

Image:LightningVolt Twisting Branch Lilac tree.jpg

A branch is a part of a woody plant such as a tree, shrub, or vine. It is any woody structural member that is not the central trunk or trunks and which supports the terminal twigs, which in turn support the leaves. Branches may be oriented in any direction from horizontally to vertically, but usually have bark similar to the upper trunk (whereas twigs often have markedly different bark).

The word also has many figurative senses, often expressing the idea of a subdivision.

1 Figurative senses

[edit]

Figurative senses

[edit]

Organizations

In government, a large division of the government with a certain function and given certain powers, such as the legislative branch, executive branch, or judicial branch
A particular store or office location of a business with more than one such location, especially of a franchising business
In Mormonism, a branch is the name of a local congregation of Latter Day Saints.

[edit]

Systems

In academia, a division of a discipline.
In mathematics, the branch cut is a curve on the complex plane connecting branch points, dividing a complex function into multiple branches.
In graph theory, a direct path joining two nodes of a network or graph.
In an electric power distribution system, a circuit from a distribution device (power panel) of a lower power handling capability than that of the input circuits to the device.
In organic chemistry, branching is when a polymer has more than two segments of backbone chain bonded to a single point. Cross-linking is a related phenomenon.

[edit]

Computing

In a computer program, a conditional jump or departure from the implicit or declared order in which instructions are being executed (see Goto and Jump instruction); also used as a verb meaning to perform such a jump
In software engineering, a separate line of development, which allows development on a project to diverge in two directions, such as a stable and a development version; see fork (software development)

[edit]