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Branche

Branche is a French noun meaning branch, limb, or offshoot. It denotes a part that grows out from a main body, whether a tree trunk, a plant, a physical structure, or a broader system. In abstract use, it can refer to a subdivision within an organization, field of study, or similar complex whole. The term derives from Old French branche and ultimately from Latin ramus, and it is cognate with the English word branch.

In botany and anatomy, a branche is a primary limb extending from the main axis of a

In knowledge and science, branche is used metaphorically to describe a subdivision of a discipline, such as

Usage notes: while branche appears in French-language contexts, English writers typically use branch unless quoting or

plant
or
organism.
In
organizational
language,
a
branch
refers
to
a
local
office
or
subdivision
of
a
bank,
company,
government
agency,
or
other
enterprise,
often
operated
separately
from
central
headquarters.
a
branch
of
mathematics
or
a
branch
of
biology,
indicating
a
distinct
area
of
focus
within
a
broader
field.
In
computing
and
information
technology,
the
English
equivalent
branch
is
used
to
describe
decision
paths
in
control
flow
or
to
denote
separate
lines
of
development
in
version
control
systems.
describing
French
terms,
names,
or
concepts.
The
term
captures
the
idea
of
an
offshoot
or
subdivision
and
is
widely
understood
in
both
everyday
and
technical
contexts.