internet

or In·ter·net

[ in-ter-net ]

noun

1. Usually the internet (except when used before a noun). a vast computer network linking smaller computer networks worldwide: includes commercial, educational, governmental, and other networks, all of which use the same set of communications protocols:

   They advertised the sale in the local paper and on the internet.

   My insurance company offers incentives to refill prescriptions over the internet.

   Parents are advised to monitor their kids’ internet access and block websites with adult content.

internet

/ ˈɪntəˌnɛt /

noun

1. the internet
   sometimes with a capital the single worldwide computer network that interconnects other computer networks, on which end-user services, such as World Wide Web sites or data archives, are located, enabling data and other information to be exchanged Also known asthe Net

Internet

/ ĭn′tər-nĕt′ /

1. A system connecting computers around the world using TCP/IP, which stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, a set of standards for transmitting and receiving digital data. The Internet consists primarily of the collection of billions of interconnected webpages that are transferred using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), and are collectively known as the World Wide Web. The Internet also uses FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to transfer files, and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) to transfer e-mail.

Internet

1. The global communication network that allows almost all computers worldwide to connect and exchange information. Some of the early impetus for such a network came from the U.S. government network Arpanet , starting in the 1960s.

Spelling Note

The lowercase form internet is now widely favored over the capitalized spelling Internet. Originally, the word was capitalized as a proper noun to distinguish the network that we now know (having developed from the large and specific U.S. Department of Defense ARPANET network) from smaller, more generic linked networks. *newpara Two major trends have eroded the former use of the capitalized form: the growing perception of the internet as a generic entity, and the general trend toward lowercase spelling and other shortcuts that minimize keystrokes in digital communication. *newpara Accordingly, the lowercase form internet was first embraced in digital media and informal writing. It was subsequently adopted by technology-related publications. Major newspapers and style guides have also now adopted the lowercase form internet as standard. The capitalized spelling may still be found in older published material or in some linguistically conservative publications. However, while either form is acceptable in writing (as long as it is used consistently), the lowercase spelling internet is the form best adapted to its evolving use.

Notes

Some scholars have argued that the access to massive amounts of information, together with the widespread ability to communicate, has altered the way that human beings perceive reality.

Word History and Origins

Origin of internet¹

First recorded in 1970–75; shortening of internetwork ( def )

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. break the internet,
   1. Slang. (of a story, image, etc.) to go viral online and suddenly dominate public interest and discourse:

      Creative marketing for her new album broke the internet.

   2. to cause internet technology or culture to change for the worse or cease to function:

      Could government surveillance and censorship break the internet forever?

2. win the internet, Slang. to be or post an article, comment, etc., on the internet that is particularly good or that earns the approval of others (often used sarcastically):

   That perceptive tweet of his won the internet last night.

   Very funny, intelligent tirade—you win the internet!

Example Sentences

The best comparison here for an American audience is, well, Internet stuff.

From The Daily Beast

The new information consisted of Internet protocol addresses that Comey said are “exclusively used” by North Korea.

From The Daily Beast

An 18-year-old Swedish rapper/Internet meme has inspired legions of impressionable teens to get based in bucket hats.

From The Daily Beast

Three months ago, the two had a baby together and the Internet mostly just shrugged.

From The Daily Beast

Do as Tumblr has done and scrub her last words off the Internet—erase everything she wanted the world to hear.

From The Daily Beast

There are so many infected PCs on the Internet that the price of hiring an hour or two on a botnet has crashed.

From Project Gutenberg

When you combined it all, you had a free console full of free games that could get you free Internet access.

From Project Gutenberg

For a normal Internet surfer, a session online is probably about 95 percent cleartext, five percent ciphertext.

From Project Gutenberg

The problem is that if there's too much crypto in someone's Internet connection, they'll stand out as unusual.

From Project Gutenberg

If the cleaners knocked out the plug, the entire Internet lost its ability to find itself.

From Project Gutenberg