Meaning & use
branch lines
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“branch lines” is a form of “branch line”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
The smaller railway routes that connect to a main line rather than being part of it.
Grammar: Always used in the plural when talking about several routes; the singular 'branch line' refers to one such route.
Patterns
- branch lines to somewhere
- a network of branch lines
- branch lines from a main line
The old branch lines to the coast were closed in the 1960s.
Small branch lines carry passengers between villages and the nearest city.
Engineers repaired the branch lines after the storm damaged the tracks.
nounpluralbusiness
In business, the secondary product ranges or service routes that a company adds to its main activity.
Grammar: Used mainly in business writing; the singular 'branch line' can mean one extra product range.
Patterns
- add branch lines
- branch lines of a business
- develop branch lines
The publisher expanded into branch lines such as calendars and greeting cards.
Managers worried that too many branch lines would distract from the core brand.
Their branch lines in home repair now earn more than the original service.
Common combinations
- a network of branch lines
- A network of branch lines once linked every farm town in the region.
- close a branch line
- The railway closed the last branch line in the valley in 1972.
- a rural branch line
- Rural branch lines are expensive to keep running.
- branch line service
- Branch line service was suspended while the bridge was rebuilt.
Synonyms and how they differ
- feeder line
- Often used for a transport route that brings passengers to a bigger line; 'branch line' is the more general railway term.
- spur
- A short side track or route; it suggests something very brief, while a branch line can be long.
Opposites
Word family
- branch noun
- A division of a larger organization, or a part growing out from a tree.
- branch line noun
- The singular form: one secondary railway route.
Commonly confused: branch lines or line branch?
branch lines vs line branch
Not a standard term; English puts 'branch' before 'line' in this compound.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'branch lines' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Branch lines' is a plural noun for secondary railway routes, so it fits as the subject of 'connect'. The other options treat it as a verb or use it for tree parts, where English says 'branches'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “branch lines”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.