What does "mesh" mean?

1. (net-like material) a material made of wire, plastic, or thread that has many small, even holes. 2. (computing/electronics) a type of network where every device connects directly to many others. 3. (3D modeling) a collection of points and shapes that define the surface of a 3D object in a computer program. 4. (to fit together) to fit or work together well, like the teeth of two wheels or two different ideas.

mesh

n. · v.

US //ˈmɛʃ// UK //mˈɛʃ// mesh

1 net-like material (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a material made of wire, plastic, or thread that has many small, even holes.

a structure of interlaced strands of metal, fibre, or other flexible material with uniform open spaces.

Example

The window has a fine wire mesh to keep the insects out.

Example

The industrial filter uses a stainless steel mesh to separate large particles from the liquid stream during the refining process.
2 computing/electronics (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

a type of network where every device connects directly to many others.

a network topology in which each node relays data for the network and connects to multiple other nodes.

Example

We installed a mesh network to make sure the Wi-Fi reached every room.

Example

The deployment of a mesh topology ensured that the communication system remained resilient even if several individual nodes failed simultaneously.
- network
- grid

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3 3D modeling (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

a collection of points and shapes that define the surface of a 3D object in a computer program.

a collection of vertices, edges, and faces that defines the shape of a polyhedral object in computer graphics.

Example

The designer adjusted the mesh of the character to make the skin look smoother.

Example

The high-resolution polygon mesh allowed for incredibly detailed textures, though it significantly increased the rendering time for the final animation.
- wireframe
- model
4 to fit together (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to fit or work together well, like the teeth of two wheels or two different ideas.

to interlock or engage, as with gear teeth; figuratively, to coordinate or harmonize effectively.

Example

The two different management styles didn't mesh well at first.

Example

The gears must mesh perfectly to ensure the smooth transfer of power from the motor to the drive shaft.
- interlock
- harmonize
- align
- clash
- conflict

Origin

From Middle English mesche, from Old English masc (“net”) (perhaps influenced in form by related Old English mæscre (“mesh, spot”)), from the related Proto-Germanic maskwǭ and maskrǭ respectively, from Proto-Indo-European *mezg- (“to knit, twist, plait”). Akin to Old High German māsca (“mesh”), Old Saxon maska (“net”), Old Norse mǫskvi, mǫskun (“mesh”).