# web server

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/web-server
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. software application

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the software that delivers web pages and other files to your browser using the internet.

For teachers: a software application that handles HTTP requests from clients and serves back HTML documents or other resources.

- The developer had to restart the web server after updating the site's code.
- Modern web server software can handle thousands of concurrent connections by efficiently managing system resources and caching frequently accessed data.

Usage: Often used to refer specifically to the software stack, such as Apache or Nginx.

### 2. physical or virtual hardware

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the actual computer where website files are stored and kept running.

For teachers: the physical or virtual machine dedicated to running server software and hosting web content.

- Our company keeps its web server in a secure data center with backup power.
- Upgrading the physical web server with more memory significantly reduced the time it took for the website to load during peak traffic hours.

Usage: In modern contexts, this often refers to a virtual instance in a cloud environment rather than a physical box.

## Examples

- The web server is down, so the site won't load.
- When you type a URL into your browser, it sends a request to a web server to fetch the page content.
- High-traffic websites often distribute incoming requests across multiple web servers to prevent any single machine from becoming overloaded and slowing down the user experience.

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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.