node

American  

[nohd] / noʊd /

noun

1. a centering point of component parts.

   The electrical connections all ran through a central node.

2. a knot, protuberance, or knob.

   protruding nodes on a bicycle seat.

3. Anatomy. a knotlike mass of tissue.

   lymph node.

4. Pathology. a circumscribed swelling.

5. Botany.

   1. a joint in a stem.

   2. a part of a stem that normally bears a leaf.

6. Computers.

   1. a connection point in a network that is a processing device with an assigned address, as a router, computer terminal, peripheral device, or mobile device.

      nodes on the internet;

      In a well-designed network, the failure of one computer node does not cause a failure in the network.

   2. a data point or cluster within a tree or other information structure, as defined by its relationship to another data point or cluster: The nodes in an artificial neural network are connected to each other to send and receive information, much like the neurons of the human brain.

      The directory node governs several constituent files.

      The nodes in an artificial neural network are connected to each other to send and receive information, much like the neurons of the human brain.

7. Mathematics. knot.

8. Geometry. a point on a curve or surface at which there can be more than one tangent line or tangent plane.

9. Physics. a point, line, or region in a standing wave at which there is relatively little or no vibration.

10. Astronomy. either of the two points at which the orbit of a heavenly body intersects a given plane, especially the plane of the ecliptic or of the celestial equator.

11. Linguistics. an element of a tree diagram that represents a constituent of a linguistic construction.

12. Optics. nodal point.

13. Engineering. panel point.

14. nodus.

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node British  

/ nəʊd /

noun

1. a knot, swelling, or knob

2. the point on a plant stem from which the leaves or lateral branches grow

3. physics a point at which the amplitude of one of the two kinds of displacement in a standing wave has zero or minimum value. Generally the other kind of displacement has its maximum value at this point See also standing wave Compare antinode

4. Also called: crunode.  maths a point at which two branches of a curve intersect, each branch having a distinct tangent

5. maths linguistics one of the objects of which a graph or a tree consists; vertex

6. astronomy either of the two points at which the orbit of a body intersects the plane of the ecliptic. When the body moves from the south to the north side of the ecliptic, it passes the ascending node ; moving from the north to the south side, it passes the descending node

7. anatomy

   1. any natural bulge or swelling of a structure or part, such as those that occur along the course of a lymphatic vessel ( lymph node )

   2. a finger joint or knuckle

8. computing an interconnection point on a computer network

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node Scientific  

/ nōd /

1. Anatomy A small mass or lump of body tissue that either occurs naturally, as in the case of lymph nodes, or is a result of disease.

2. Botany

   1. A point on a stem where a leaf is or has been attached.

   2. A swelling or lump on a tree; a knob or knot.

3. Physics A point or region of a vibrating or oscillating system, such as the standing wave of a vibrating guitar string, at which the amplitude of the vibration or oscillation is zero. Harmonic frequencies in oscillating systems always have nodes.

4. Physics Compare antinode

5. Astronomy

   1. Either of the two points on the celestial sphere at which the path of a revolving body, such as the Moon, a planet, or a comet, intersects the ecliptic. ◆ The point at which the body traverses from south of the ecliptic to north is the ascending node. The opposite point, when the body traverses the ecliptic from north to south, is the descending node.

   2. Either of the two points at which the orbit of an artificial satellite intersects the equatorial plane of the planet it is orbiting.

6. Computer Science A computer or a peripheral that is connected to a network.

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Etymology

Origin of node

First recorded in 1420–45; Middle English, from Latin nōdus “knot”

Explanation

A node is a point of connection. Technically, a traffic intersection is a node since multiple roads connect at that point. Another type of node is a round swelling. Some are abnormal, like a node you discover on your knee, but others, such as a lymph node, are a normal part of your immune system. You can also find a node on a plant: it’s the swelling on the stem marking the spot where leaves emerge. Computer techs know that a node can also be a piece of equipment — like your cable modem — in a computer network. In a sense, that kind of node is also a connecting point — like the traffic intersection.

Example Sentences

Ivanhoe is one node in a globe-spanning supply chain in which fossil fuels underpin the technologies pitched as their replacements.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

“I’ve beaten melanoma. I’ve beaten lymphoma. I’ve beaten vocal cord cancer. I’ve beaten lymph node cancer. I’m four for four and I’m fully confident I’m going to make it five for five.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

And the Terafab collaboration “serves as meaningful symbolic validation” that Intel’s 18A chip process node is gaining credibility on the commercial side, Acree added.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

The system, composed of radars, control node, and missile launchers, can intercept munitions and aircraft and will integrate within the wider air defences in the region, the ministry said.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

This additional layer of complexity—that DNA encodes a protein that allows DNA to replicate—is important because it provides a critical node for regulation.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee