network

[ net-wurk ]

/ ˈnɛtˌwɜrk /

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See synonyms for: network / networked / networking / networks on Thesaurus.com

noun

any netlike combination of filaments, lines, veins, passages, or the like: a network of arteries; a network of sewers under the city.

Radio and Television.

a group of transmitting stations linked by wire or microwave relay so that the same program can be broadcast or telecast by all.
a company or organization that provides programs to be broadcast over these stations: She was hired by the network as program coordinator.

Telecommunications, Computers. a system containing any combination of computers, computer terminals, printers, audio or visual display devices, or telephones interconnected by telecommunication equipment or cables: used to transmit or receive information.

an association of individuals having a common interest, formed to provide mutual assistance, helpful information, or the like: a network of recent college graduates.

a system of interrelated buildings, offices, stations, etc., especially over a large area or throughout a country, territory, region, etc.: a network of supply depots.

Electricity. an arrangement of conducting elements, as resistors, capacitors, or inductors, connected by conducting wire.

verb (used without object)

to cultivate people who can be helpful to one professionally, especially in finding employment or moving to a higher position: His business lunches were taken up with networking.

verb (used with object)

to place (as a program from a local radio or television station) in or on a network: The station will try to network the local cooking show.

to connect to a network: Our freelancers are networked to the same system as our regular employees.

to distribute widely: We charge a small fee for networking your résumé.

to cover with or as if with a network: to network a bay with buoys.

to organize into a network: to network the state's independent stations.

to broadcast (a program) over a radio or television network.

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Origin of network

First recorded in 1550–60, and in 1910–15 for def. 2; net¹ + work

historical usage of network

Network is an obvious compound of the nouns net and work. Originally, in the 16th century, it referred to anything made of threads or wires or suchlike in the pattern of intersecting lines or meshes resembling a net.
Through different eras, network developed senses to reflect the modes of human connection prevalent at the time. Network in the sense “natural features forming a chain, as islands, or a man-made system of interconnecting railroads, canals, telegraphs, or telephones” dates from the 19th century. The sense “a system to broadcast radio and television signals by many transmitters over a very wide area” dates from before World War I. The meaning “system of interconnected computers” dates from the 1960s, while the sense of a “group of individuals having a common interest” is earlier, from the 1940s.

OTHER WORDS FROM network

networker, nounnon·net·work, adjectivesub·net·work, nounsu·per·net·work, noun

Words nearby network

net tonnage, netty, Neturei Karta, net-veined, net-winged, network, network analysis, network computer, networker, networking, network marketing

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use network in a sentence

Actress Kate Hudson co-founded the company and co-CEO Adam Goldenberg believes that its network of spokespeople has been key to the company’s growth.
Fabletics’ Adam Goldenberg and Kevin Hart on what’s next for the activewear empire|Lucas Matney|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
It can then determine when something seems awry and stop an anomalous activity before it reaches the network.
Perigee infrastructure security solution from former NSA employee moves into public beta|Ron Miller|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
In the meantime, Tiktok users found a way around the ban using NordVPN and other virtual private networks.
What you must know about TikTok for business|Connie Benton|September 17, 2020|Search Engine Watch
They believe that they should actively monitor Instagram accounts, Twitter accounts and social networks to understand who are the people making protests and opposition within the country.
Podcast: COVID-19 is helping turn Brazil into a surveillance state|Anthony Green|September 16, 2020|MIT Technology Review

TV networks’ and streaming services’ programming pipelines have been impaired but not imperiled to the point that they are loading up on Zoom-shot shows.
How the future of TV and streaming has – and hasn’t – been reshaped so far by 2020|Tim Peterson|September 16, 2020|Digiday
Almost all of the network and cable news channels said that they would not be showing the cartoons either.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
These are dark times for network TV, but experiments like Galavant are the silver lining.
‘Galavant’: A Drunken, Horny Musical Fairy Tale|Melissa Leon|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Mary Elizabeth Williams of Salon labels the show a “crass stunt” on a “bottom-feeding vortex of sadness network.”
Your Husband Is Definitely Gay: TLC’s Painful Portrait of Mormonism|Samantha Allen|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
More than 20 million people tuned in to a broadcast network drama and saw two gay men have explicit sex.
Year of the Butt: How the Booty Changed the World in 2014|Kevin Fallon|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And some members of the Lizard Squad are now claiming that they were never trying to poison the network.
The Attack on the Hidden Internet|Marc Rogers|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the brilliant moonlight, on the white road, the branches cast a network of black shadow.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
They consist of a more or less dense network of hyph and numerous round or oval refractive spores.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Eventually, they located the tiny green plants with the spirally leaves at the center—the loudest point—of each network.
Old Friends Are the Best|Jack Sharkey
And darned if each meteor didn't strike dead center of each plant network.
Old Friends Are the Best|Jack Sharkey
And there were ninety-six pomegranates hanging down: and the pomegranates being a hundred in all, were compassed with network.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various

British Dictionary definitions for network

network

/ (ˈnɛtˌwɜːk) /

noun

an interconnected group or systema network of shops

Also: net a system of intersecting lines, roads, veins, etc

another name for net 1 (def. 1), netting

radio television a group of broadcasting stations that all transmit the same programme simultaneously

electronics a system of interconnected components or circuits

computing a system of interconnected computer systems, terminals, and other equipment allowing information to be exchanged

verb

(tr) radio television to broadcast on stations throughout the countrythe Scotland–England match was networked

computing (of computers, terminals, etc) to connect or be connected

(intr) to form business contacts through informal social meetings

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for network

network

[ nĕt′wûrk′ ]

A system of computers and peripherals, such as printers, that are linked together. A network can consist of as few as two computers connected with cables or millions of computers that are spread over a large geographical area and are connected by telephone lines, fiberoptic cables, or radio waves. The Internet is an example of very large network. See more at LAN WAN.

Cultural definitions for network

network

A system of computers that are joined together so that they can communicate by exchanging information and sharing resources. (See Internet and lan.)

network

Origin of network

historical usage of network

OTHER WORDS FROM network

Words nearby network

Words related to network

How to use network in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for network

Scientific definitions for network

Cultural definitions for network