From HomoExcelsior

1. A limited part of a larger or more complex unit or system. 2. A sequence of program instructions to which the normal sequence of instructions relinquishes control. 3. The instructions executed as the result of such a passing of control. 4. To relinquish control to another set of instructions or another routine as a result of the presence of a branch. 5. An alternate development path in the software version control system governing release management: "This new branch of the OS is for embedded systems with limited MMU capabillities."

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