# node

/ˈnoʊd/ (US) · /nˈəʊd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/node
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. computing/networks

noun · CEFR B2

a device, like a computer or printer, that is connected to a larger network.

For teachers: any device or terminal connected to a network that can receive, create, or transmit data.

- Each node in the office network must have its own security software installed.
- The network administrator identified a faulty node that was causing significant latency across the entire local area network.

### 2. data structures

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a single point or piece of information in a digital map or tree structure.

For teachers: a fundamental unit of a data structure, such as a linked list or tree, containing data and references to other units.

- The program searches through each node of the family tree to find a match.
- The algorithm efficiently traverses the binary tree by visiting each node and evaluating its child references.

### 3. botany

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the part of a plant stem where a leaf or a new branch grows.

For teachers: the specific point on a plant stem from which one or more leaves, branches, or aerial roots emerge.

- Make sure to cut the plant just below the node to help it grow new roots.
- The distance between each node on the vine increased significantly once the plant was moved into a brighter environment.

### 4. physics/waves

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a point on a vibrating string or wave where there is no movement at all.

For teachers: a point along a standing wave where the wave has minimum amplitude or zero displacement.

- If you touch a vibrating guitar string at a node, the sound changes but the string stays still at that spot.
- In a standing wave pattern, the nodes remain stationary while the antinodes reach maximum displacement.

### 5. medicine/anatomy

noun · CEFR B2

a small, rounded mass of tissue in the body, like a lymph node.

For teachers: a small, distinct structural swelling or mass of differentiated tissue in the body.

- The doctor checked the nodes in my neck to see if I had an infection.
- The biopsy revealed that the node was benign, much to the relief of the patient and the surgical team.

### 6. astronomy

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the point where the path of a planet crosses the path of the sun.

For teachers: either of the two points where the orbit of a celestial body intersects the ecliptic or another reference plane.

- An eclipse can only happen when the moon is near a node in its orbit.
- The calculation of the ascending node is essential for determining the precise orbital elements of a newly discovered comet.

## Examples

- Each computer on the network is a node.
- The engineer identified a failure at a specific node that was preventing data from reaching the main server.
- In a decentralized network, every node maintains a copy of the ledger to ensure that no single point of failure can compromise the integrity of the entire system.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.