network
/nɛtwɜːk/ · net·work
noun
- A fabric or structure of fibrous elements attached to each other at regular intervals. The fisherman repaired the torn network of twine that held the trap together.
- Any interconnected group or system. A network of roads crisscrossed the country, linking remote villages to the capital.
- A directory of people maintained for their advancement. She cultivated a strong professional network to learn about new job openings.
verb
- To interact socially for the purpose of getting connections or personal advancement. He spent the evening networking with alumni to find potential mentors.
- To connect two or more computers or other computerized devices. The IT team will network the new laptops to the office server tomorrow.
- To interconnect a group or system. Engineers networked the sensors so that data could flow seamlessly across the platform.
Did you know? The term ‘network’ entered computing jargon in the 1960s, inspired by the ARPANET project that eventually evolved into the modern Internet.