fork vs branch

fork and branch both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
fork	Yes	No	Yes	No
branch	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, branch is a hypernym of fork; that is, branch is a word with a broader meaning than fork:

Other hypernyms of fork include leg, ramification.

As verbs, fork and branch are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of fork include furcate, ramify, separate.

fork (noun)	branch (noun)
the act of branching out or dividing into branches	any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm
a utensil with two or more prongs, used for serving or eating food	a division of some larger or more complex organization
an agricultural tool used for lifting or digging; has a handle and metal prongs	a stream or river connected to a larger one
the angle formed by the inner sides of the legs where they join the human trunk	a natural consequence of development
the region of the angle formed by the junction of two branches	a division of a stem, or secondary stem arising from the main stem of a plant
	a part of a forked or branching shape

fork (verb)	branch (verb)
divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork	divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork
shape like a fork	grow and send out branches or branch-like structures
place under attack with one's own pieces, of two enemy pieces
lift with a pitchfork