(~es, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
The ~es of a tree are the parts that grow out from its trunk and have leaves, flowers, or fruit growing on them.
N-COUNT
2.
A ~ of a business or other organization is one of the offices, shops, or groups which belong to it and which are located in different places.
The local ~ of Bank of America is handling the accounts...
National is Britain’s leading autocare service with over 400 ~es nationwide.
N-COUNT: oft N of n
3.
A ~ of an organization such as the government or the police force is a department that has a particular function.
Senate employees could take their employment grievances to another ~ of government...
He had a fascination for submarines and joined this ~ of the service.
...the Metropolitan Police Special Branch.
N-COUNT: with supp, oft N of n, adj N
4.
A ~ of a subject is a part or type of it.
Oncology is the ~ of medicine dealing with tumors.
N-COUNT: N of n
5.
A ~ of your family is a group of its members who are descended from one particular person.
This is one of the ~es of the Roosevelt family.
N-COUNT: usu N of n