network
n. countablen. a group of people or things that are connected to each other. You use this to talk about computers sharing information or people who help each other in their jobs.
n. a system of interconnected components or individuals that exchange information or services. Often used to describe physical infrastructure, digital systems, or social structures.
The office computer network is down today.
Building a strong professional network can help you find a new job more quickly through personal recommendations.
The researchers mapped the complex network of neural pathways to understand how the brain processes visual stimuli in real time.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *neHd- Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Germanic *natją Proto-West Germanic *nati Old English nett Middle English net English net Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-om Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom Proto-Germanic *werką Proto-West Germanic *werk Old English weorc Middle English werk English work English network From net + work; the nonliteral sense and its subsenses are extended from the literal sense; they are now the dominant senses. Cognate with German Netzwerk.
Often functions as a noun adjunct in phrases like 'network security' or 'network television'.