to spread and develop many parts or branches, or to make something do this

An elaborate system of canals was built, leading away from the Thames and ramifying throughout the UK. 建立了一个精心设计的运河系统，从泰晤士河引出，呈枝桠状向英国各地延伸。

Younger branches of the family moved beyond the parish boundaries and ramified the surname widely. 该家族年轻的几支迁出了教区边界，使这个姓氏的人广泛分布各处。