ramification的用法

其实中文字典上的解释（尤其是这种在线词典）并不一定正确。
我查了剑桥和郎文，他们的解释都不是“分支”

剑桥
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=65347&dict=CALD
noun [C usually plural]
the possible results of an action:
例子：Have you considered all the ramifications of your suggestion?

郎文
[countable usually plural] formal
an additional result of something you do, which may not have been clear when you first decided to do it
例子：an agreement which was to have significant ramifications for British politics
ramification of
例子：the practical ramifications of taking on a new job
legal/political/economic etc ramifications
例子：the environmental ramifications of the road-building program

他们的解释都是：一项决策或一个事情的附加的结果。
建议多使用英英词典，这样进步得更快。

Merriam-Webster:
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