Abzweigung

Abzweigung is a German noun that denotes the point at which something splits or diverges from a main line, branch, or path. The word is formed from the prefix ab- and the noun Zweig (branch) and is used across a range of domains to describe a junction or fork in a system, network, or natural feature.

In road traffic, a Abzweigung refers to a fork in a street or highway where traffic can continue in two or more directions. It implies a decision point for routing, and signage or intersection design communicates the available branches. In rail transport, a Abzweigung is a junction where a railway line diverges from a main route, often involving track arrangements and switches (Weichen) to enable trains to proceed along different lines.

In technical and utility networks, the term describes a branch off a main feeder or supply line. An electrical, telecommunications, or water system may use a Abzweigung to supply a subsidiary circuit or customer area from a central trunk, a concept also described by more specific terms such as Abzweig or Abzweigleitung in certain contexts.

Beyond engineered systems, Abzweigung can appear in geography and biology to describe natural branching, such as a river splitting into streams or the branching pattern of a plant stem. While the precise terminology may vary by field, Abzweigung broadly designates a point where a path, line, or flow splits into separate branches.