offshoot /ˈɔfʃut/

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Origin

From "off" + "shoot", first used in 1570s, referring to a shoot or branch growing from a main stem.

Definitions

1. (n) A branch growing from a main stem or branch of a plant
2. (n) Something that develops or derives from something else; a branch, descendant, or derivative

Example Sentences

• The company created several offshoots to handle different aspects of their business.
• Jazz fusion is an offshoot of traditional jazz music.
• The research project generated several interesting offshoots that warranted further study.

Related Words

• Forms: (no variations)
• Synonyms:
  • branch
  • spinoff
  • outgrowth
  • subdivision
  • derivative
  • extension

Memory Tricks

• Think of a plant with a new branch "shooting off" from the main stem
• Break it down: "off" (away from) + "shoot" (grow/branch) = something that grows away from the main part
• Visualize a family tree, where each new branch is an offshoot of the main family line

Usage Notes

Often used in business contexts to describe new companies or projects that develop from existing ones, or in biology to describe plant growth patterns.