node

[ nohd ]

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 ¹( def 12 ).
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. Compare ascending node, descending node.
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.

node

/ 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 calledcrunode 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

node

/ 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of node¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of node¹

C16: from Latin nōdus knot

Example Sentences

Using microscopy, they captured movies of the cell and its chloroplast and then fitted a network of nodes and edges to its complex shape using computer algorithms.

From Science Daily

The “Fuller House” actor said he was diagnosed with the blood cancer in October after contracting an upper respiratory infection that caused major swelling in his lymph nodes.

From Los Angeles Times

The printout I bring to the Getty contains references to houses, nodes and aspect patterns that mean nothing to me, but Garfield makes quick work of interpreting the language.

From Los Angeles Times

By October 2023, her scans showed that the cancer had metastasized up her spine, through her hips, into her lymph nodes and “almost everywhere but my brain.”

From Los Angeles Times

He was treated with surgery, but three years later the disease had spread to his lymph nodes.

From BBC