offshoot

/ˈɒfʃuːt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɔːfʃuːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈȯf-ˌshüt/ (ame, mw)

offshoot — noun

  • offshootsingular
  • offshootsplural

1. a smaller group, organization, or idea that grew out of a larger one that came f

1.名詞C1
釋義

a smaller group, organization, or idea that grew out of a larger one that came first.

例句

The Taipei chamber group is an offshoot of the national orchestra.

an offshoot of + [parent organization]

Bao's research lab started as an offshoot of his old university department.

start as an offshoot of [institution]

同義詞
  • spin-off

    very close; often used for companies, TV series, or products that split off from a parent.

  • branch

    neutral; can be a simple sub-unit, not necessarily a new identity.

  • outgrowth

    more formal; emphasises that the new thing developed naturally from the old.

反義詞
  • parent body

    the larger, original organization the offshoot came from.

文法句型

an offshoot of [organization/movement/idea]

用法筆記

Subject is usually a smaller, newer entity (group, company, theory, product); the prepositional phrase names the larger, older parent. Almost always used with 'of'.

常見錯誤

❌The lab is an offshoot from the university.
✅The lab is an offshoot of the university.
💡'offshoot' takes 'of', not 'from'.
❌The new café is an offshoot of the bigger café.' (two equal-status branches)
✅The new café is a branch of the bigger café.
💡'offshoot' implies a new, smaller thing that has grown its own identity, not a sibling location.

2. a young stem or branch that has grown out from the main stem of a plant.

2.名詞C1
釋義

a young stem or branch that has grown out from the main stem of a plant.

例句

Kemi cut several small offshoots from the rose bush to plant in pots.

cut offshoots from [plant]

The old bamboo sent up green offshoots all along the garden wall.

send up offshoots (intransitive feel)

同義詞
  • shoot

    a more general term for any young growing stem; the most common everyday word.

  • sucker

    specifically an unwanted offshoot from the base or roots that gardeners often remove.

  • sprout

    very young; often used of the first growth from a seed or bulb.

反義詞
  • main stem

    the central, established stem the offshoot grows out from.

文法句型

an offshoot of [plant/stem]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this is the literal, botanical meaning — a physical young stem on a real plant. Sense 1 is the metaphorical extension to organizations and ideas. Often appears in gardening contexts with verbs like 'cut', 'trim', 'send up', 'remove'.

常見錯誤

❌The tree has many offshoots up at the top.' (meaning ordinary big branches)
✅The tree has many branches up at the top.
💡'offshoot' usually means a NEW or YOUNG stem, not a mature branch.