branches
/ˈbrɑːntʃ.ɪz/ (bre, ipa) · [brˈæntʃəz] /ˈbræn.tʃɪz/ (ame, ipa) · [brˈæntʃəz] /ˈbranch/ (ame, mw)
branches — 名詞
1. one of the arm-like parts of a tree that grows out from the trunk and holds leav
樹枝
從樹幹向外長出、帶有葉花果的枝條
one of the arm-like parts of a tree that grows out from the trunk and holds leaves, flowers, or fruit
Tomás climbed onto a thick branch to reach the ripest mango.
Tomás 爬到一根粗樹枝上，去摘最熟的芒果。
The storm tore several large branches from the old oak tree behind the school.
暴風雨從學校後方那棵老橡樹上扯斷了好幾根大樹枝。
tore + branches + from + noun
A pair of sparrows built a nest in the highest branch of the maple tree.
一對麻雀在楓樹最高的樹枝上築了巢。
Lauren carefully cut the dead branch off the cherry tree near the garden gate.
Lauren 小心地把花園門旁那棵櫻桃樹上的枯枝鋸掉了。
- trunk
the main central stem of a tree, from which branches grow out
文法句型
[countable] branch of + noun
用法筆記
The most common and earliest-learned sense. Often used with prepositions like 'on', 'from', and 'off' to describe position or removal.
常見錯誤
2. a local office or division of a large organisation such as a bank, library, shop
分支機構
大型組織在當地的辦事處或分店
a local office or division of a large organisation such as a bank, library, shop, or company that operates in a different location from the main office
Nkechi opened a savings account at the bank branch near the train station.
Nkechi 在火車站附近的銀行分行開了一個儲蓄帳戶。
The city library has branches in every neighbourhood across town.
市立圖書館在城裡各個社區都有分館。
has + branches + in + location
The company plans to open three new branches in Asia by next year.
該公司計劃明年在亞洲開設三家新的分公司。
Yuki visited the local post office branch to collect her package.
Yuki 到當地的郵局分局領取她的包裹。
- office
broader term; can refer to any workplace, not necessarily part of a larger organisation
- division
refers more to a department or segment within an organisation than a physical location
- subsidiary
a separate company that is owned or controlled by a larger company; more formal
- headquarters
the main office where the central management of an organisation is located
文法句型
[countable] branch of + noun
用法筆記
Subject is often a company, library, bank, or government agency. Frequently paired with 'local' or 'main' to distinguish the branch from the headquarters.
常見錯誤
3. a narrower river that runs into a larger river and is often described as a tribu
支流
流入主河道的小河或溪流
a narrower river that runs into a larger river and is often described as a tributary
The Amazon River has hundreds of branches that carry water from the rainforest.
亞馬遜河有數百條支流，從雨林輸送水流而來。
branch + carry + water
Faisal followed a narrow branch of the river until it opened into a wide lake.
Faisal 沿著一條狹窄的河流支流前進，直到它流入一片寬闊的湖泊。
The main river splits into three smaller branches near the delta.
主河道在三角洲附近分成三條較小的支流。
Many fish swim up the river branches to lay their eggs in shallow water.
許多魚游到河流的支流中，在淺水區產卵。
- main river
the primary watercourse that branches flow into
文法句型
[countable] branch of + noun
4. a route, path, or line that diverges from a main system, such as a road, railway
支線；岔路
從主線分出的道路或管道
a route, path, or line that diverges from a main system, such as a road, railway, pipe, or cable going in another direction
A small branch of the railway line runs from the city to the port.
鐵路的一條小支線從市區通往港口。
branch + of + railway line
The water pipe under the kitchen sink has a branch that carries cold water to the vegetable garden.
廚房水槽下方有一條水管支線，將冷水送到菜園裡。
Workers are building a new branch road to connect the highway with the airport.
工人們正在修建一條新的道路支線，連接高速公路和機場。
The gas company laid a branch pipeline under First Avenue to reach the new housing estate.
瓦斯公司在第一大道下面鋪設了一條分支管線，以供應新建住宅區的天然氣。
- main line
the primary route or conduit from which branches extend
文法句型
[countable] branch of + noun
5. a thin, arm-like or point-like physical part that sticks out from a larger objec
細長分叉
物體上細長、叉狀的突出部分
a thin, arm-like or point-like physical part that sticks out from a larger object, like the pointed tips of an antler or the arms of a chandelier
Each branch of the deer's antlers splits into several smaller points.
鹿角的分叉又分出好幾個較小的尖角。
branch of + antlers
The old chandelier had curved metal branches that held glass candle holders.
舊吊燈上有彎曲的金屬分叉，用來放置玻璃燭臺。
The coral reef is made up of many tiny branches shaped like fingers.
珊瑚礁由許多細小的分叉組成，形狀像手指。
A lightning bolt can split into several branches as it strikes the ground.
閃電擊中地面時會分裂成好幾條分叉。
文法句型
[countable] branch of + noun
6. one of the groups of nerve fibres that branch away from a main nerve and connect
神經分支
從主神經分出的小神經纖維群
one of the groups of nerve fibres that branch away from a main nerve and connect to specific muscles, organs, or areas of the body
The facial nerve has several branches that control the muscles around the mouth and eyes.
顏面神經有幾個分支，控制嘴巴和眼睛周圍的肌肉。
branch + of + nerve; control + noun
Damage to the nerve branches in a hand can make moving the fingers difficult.
手部神經分支受損可能會導致手指活動困難。
The surgeon carefully avoided cutting the tiny branches of the optic nerve.
外科醫生小心翼翼地避免切到視神經的微小分支。
Each spinal nerve branch carries signals between the brain and a specific body part.
脊神經的每個分支都在大腦和特定身體部位之間傳遞訊號。
- ramification
more technical/formal; used mainly in medical or botanical writing
文法句型
[countable] branch + of + noun
常見錯誤
branches — 動詞
- branchespresent simple I / you / we / they
- brancheses3rd person singular
- branchessing-ing form
- branchessedpast simple
1. to grow new branches from a plant's main stem or from an existing branch
長分枝
（植物）從莖部長出分枝
to grow new branches from a plant's main stem or from an existing branch
The young apple tree in Grandma's backyard began to branch in its second year after planting.
奶奶後院裡的那棵小蘋果樹在種下的第二年开始長出分枝。
Pruning the top of the rose bush helps it branch more fully and grow into a denser shape.
修剪玫瑰叢的頂端有助於它長出更多分枝，長成更茂密的形狀。
helps + it + branch
The 'New Dawn' rose branches freely and produces pink flowers from June to September.
「New Dawn」玫瑰很容易分枝，從六月到九月都會開出粉紅色的花。
After the heavy rain, the tomato plants branched out in every direction.
大雨過後，番茄植株的枝條向四面八方伸展出去。
- ramify
formal/technical; used mainly in scientific writing about plants or networks
- prune
to cut off branches, the opposite of sending out new branches
文法句型
branch + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Often used in gardening and botanical contexts. The phrasal verb 'branch out' is more common than the base verb in everyday speech.
2. to separate or spread out into multiple distinct parts that go in different dire
分岔；分開
（道路、河流等）分成不同方向
to separate or spread out into multiple distinct parts that go in different directions
The main road branches into two smaller lanes just past the bridge.
大路在橋前方不遠處分成兩條較小的車道。
branch + into + noun
The Mekong River branches several times before it reaches the South China Sea.
湄公河在注入南海之前分岔了好幾次。
branch + several times
Dahlia stopped where the footpath branched left towards the old mill.
Dahlia 在步道向左分岔通往舊磨坊的地方停下了腳步。
The Chen family tree branches into different lines living in Taiwan, Canada, and Brazil.
陳家的族譜分成不同分支，如今分布在台灣、加拿大和巴西。
- converge
to come together at a common point, the opposite of branching apart
文法句型
branch + adverb/preposition
branch into + noun
用法筆記
Subject is typically a road, path, river, or other linear feature. Use 'branch off' when describing something that leaves a main route to go in a new direction.