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[net-wurk] /ˈnɛtˌwɜrk/

noun
1.
any netlike combination of filaments, lines, veins, passages, or the like:
a network of arteries; a network of sewers under the city.
2.
Radio and Television.

3.
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.
4.
an association of individuals having a common interest, formed to provide mutual assistance, helpful information, or the like:
a network of recent college graduates.
5.
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.
6.
Electricity. an arrangement of conducting elements, as resistors, capacitors, or inductors, connected by conducting wire.
7.
a netting or net.
verb (used without object)
8.
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)
9.
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.
10.
to connect to a network.
11.
to distribute widely:
We charge a small fee for networking your résumé.
12.
to cover with or as if with a network:
to network a bay with buoy markers.
13.
to organize into a network:
to network the state’s independent stations.
14.
to broadcast (a program) over a radio or television network.
/ˈnɛtˌwɜːk/
noun
1.
an interconnected group or system: a network of shops
2.
Also net. a system of intersecting lines, roads, veins, etc
3.
another name for net1 (sense 1), netting
4.
(radio, television) a group of broadcasting stations that all transmit the same programme simultaneously
5.
(electronics) a system of interconnected components or circuits
6.
(computing) a system of interconnected computer systems, terminals, and other equipment allowing information to be exchanged
verb
7.
(transitive) (radio, television) to broadcast on stations throughout the country: the Scotland–England match was networked
8.
(computing) (of computers, terminals, etc) to connect or be connected
9.
(intransitive) to form business contacts through informal social meetings
n.

“net-like arrangement of threads, wires, etc.,” 1550s, from net (n.) + work (n.). Extended sense of “any complex, interlocking system” is from 1839 (originally in reference to transport by rivers, canals, and railways). Meaning “broadcasting system of multiple transmitters” is from 1914; sense of “interconnected group of people” is from 1947.
v.

1887, “to cover with a network,” from network (n.). From 1940 as “to broadcast over a (radio) network;” 1972 in reference to computers; 1980s in reference to persons. Related: Networked; networking.

network net·work (nět’wûrk’)
n.

network
(nět’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.

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

verb

To solicit opinion and aid from associates with common interests: I’m networking this question, but nobody has a certain answer (1980s+)

Related Terms

old boy network
networking
Hardware and software data communication systems.
The OSI seven layer model attempts to provide a way of partitioning any computer network into independent modules from the lowest (physical) layer to the highest (application) layer. Many different specifications exist at each of these layers.
Networks are often also classified according to their geographical extent: local area network (LAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), wide area network (WAN) and also according to the protocols used.
See BITNET, Ethernet, Internet, Novell, PSTN, network, the.
[Tanenbaum, A., “Computer Networks; 2nd ed.”, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1989.]
(1995-03-10)