ramification

ramification
    n 1: the act of branching out or dividing into branches [syn:
         {branching}, {ramification}, {fork}, {forking}]
    2: a part of a forked or branching shape; "he broke off one of
       the branches" [syn: {branch}, {leg}, {ramification}]
    3: a development that complicates a situation; "the court's
       decision had many unforeseen ramifications" [syn:
       {complication}, {ramification}]
    4: an arrangement of branching parts
    

Ramification \Ram`i*fi*ca"tion\
   (r[a^]m`[i^]*f[i^]*k[=a]"sh[u^]n), n. [Cf. F. ramification.
   See {Ramify}.]
   1. The process of branching, or the development of branches
      or offshoots from a stem; also, the mode of their
      arrangement.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A small branch or offshoot proceeding from a main stock or
      channel; as, the ramifications of an artery, vein, or
      nerve.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A division into principal and subordinate classes, heads,
      or departments; also, one of the subordinate parts; as,
      the ramifications of a subject or scheme.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. The production of branchlike figures. --Crabb.
      [1913 Webster]
    

101 Moby Thesaurus words for "ramification":
      V, appendage, arborescence, arborization, arm, bifidity, biforking,
      bifurcation, bine, bipartition, bisection, bough, branch,
      branchedness, branchiness, branching, branching off, burgeon,
      by two, complexity, complexness, complication, consequence,
      convolution, crabbedness, crotch, crutch, cutting in two, deadwood,
      delta, dichotomy, difficulty, dimidiation, divarication, division,
      effect, entanglement, extension, fan, flagellum, fork, forking,
      frond, furcation, furcula, furculum, groin, halving, hand, imp,
      implication, in half, inguen, intricacy, intricateness, involution,
      involvement, joint, leg, limb, link, lobe, lobule, member,
      offshoot, organ, outgrowth, perplexity, pinion, prong, ramage,
      result, runner, sarment, scion, shoot, slip, spear, spray, sprig,
      sprit, sprout, spur, stem, stolon, subdivision, subtlety, sucker,
      switch, tail, tanglement, technicality, tendril, thallus,
      treelikeness, trident, trifurcation, twig, upshot, wing,
      wishbone