branching

branching
    adj 1: having branches [syn: {branched}, {branching}, {ramose},
           {ramous}, {ramate}]
    2: resembling the branches of a tree
    n 1: the act of branching out or dividing into branches [syn:
         {branching}, {ramification}, {fork}, {forking}]
    

Branch \Branch\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Branched}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Branching}.]
   1. To shoot or spread in branches; to separate into branches;
      to ramify.
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   2. To divide into separate parts or subdivision.
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   {To branch off}, to form a branch or a separate part; to
      diverge.

   {To branch out}, to speak diffusively; to extend one's
      discourse to other topics than the main one; also, to
      enlarge the scope of one's business, etc.
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            To branch out into a long disputation. --Spectator.
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Branching \Branch"ing\, n.
   The act or state of separation into branches; division into
   branches; a division or branch.
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         The sciences, with their numerous branchings. --L.
                                                  Watts.
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Branching \Branch"ing\, a.
   Furnished with branches; shooting our branches; extending in
   a branch or branches.
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         Shaded with branching palm.              --Milton.
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67 Moby Thesaurus words for "branching":
      V-shaped, Y-shaped, arboreal, arborescence, arborescent,
      arboriform, arborization, bifidity, biforked, biforking, bifurcate,
      bifurcated, bifurcation, bipartition, bisected, bisection, bowery,
      branched, branching off, branchlike, branchy, by two, cleft,
      cloven, crotched, cutting in two, dendriform, dendritic,
      dichotomous, dichotomy, dimidiate, dimidiation, divarication,
      divided, division, foliaged, foliate, foliated, foliose, forked,
      forking, forklike, furcate, furcation, halved, halving, in half,
      leafy, leaved, leavy, pronged, ramate, ramification, ramified,
      ramose, ramous, riven, split, subdivision, tree-shaped, treelike,
      treelikeness, tridentlike, trifurcate, trifurcated, trifurcation,
      twiggy