network

View more Science videos

A graphical representation of a problem by means of nodes connected by arcs of varying length or capacity. The arcs are usually directed. Examples include finding the shortest path between two nodes, finding the shortest set of arcs that connects all the nodes, the Chinese postman problem, and the travelling salesman problem. See also critical path analysis; network flow problems; reliability theory.

For more information on network, visit Britannica.com.

(1) A system that transmits any combination of voice, video and/or data between users. The network includes the network operating system in the client and server machines, the cables connecting them and all supporting hardware in between such as bridges, routers and switches. In wireless systems, antennas and towers are also part of the network.

Almost all local networks (LANs) in offices and homes are Ethernet networks, which conform to the IEEE's 802.11 specification. The wireless version of Ethernet is commonly known as "Wi-Fi." See 802.11, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, LAN, WAN, client, server, enterprise networking and communications.

(2) Any arrangement of elements that are interconnected. See network database.

Download Computer Desktop Encyclopedia to your PC, iPhone or Android.

1. Group of affiliated stations interconnected for the simultaneous broadcast of the same programs. A network usually consists of a program-producing central administering organization, owned and operated stations, and independently owned and affiliated stations. The network produces or buys a program that is economically unfeasible for a single station to produce and sells it to national advertisers for an amount equal to program production costs plus the affiliates' air-time charges. With the network system, advertisers reach larger audiences at a lower cost per person than with a single station, and local stations get key programming to attract sponsors. National networks offer complete national coverage of an advertising message. Regional networks concentrate on a specific geographic area, providing a means to cater to regional preferences. Tailor-made networks are a group of stations joining together on a temporary basis for a special program. Cable networks deal with satellite-delivered programming.

2. Group of noncompeting agencies or executives who meet to exchange information or services and develop contacts; called networking.

3. Group of newspapers spread over a wide geographic region, whose advertising space is sold as a unit under one billing.

Terminals, computers, and processors connected together by telephone lines or cable for the purpose of approving financial transactions. Among the numerous bank-to-bank networks are, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) networks, which are electronic banking systems comprising numerous bank-owned ATMs, each connected directly or indirectly to a central computer facility called a Switch that routes transactions to the appropriate bank for approval and posting to customer accounts. Other examples of banking networks are Automated Clearing House networks, electronic Point-Of-Sale systems, the Federal Reserve's Federal Wire (Fed Wire), and the Clearing House Interbank Payments System (Chips). See also Funds Transfer; Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (Swift).

noun

1. An open fabric woven of strands that are interlaced and knotted at usually regular intervals: mesh, net¹, netting, web. See thing.
2. An interwoven or interrelated number of things: tissue, web. See group.

A system of interconnecting routes which allows movement from one centre to the others. Most networks are made up of nodes (or vertices), which are the junctions and terminals, and links (or edges) which are the routes or services which connect them. The form a network takes will reflect not only relief, population distribution, and level of economic development, but will also be influenced by historical and political factors. Network connectivity is the extent to which movement is possible between points on a network.

Network analysis is a method of studying networks in terms of graph theory, and network density is the total area covered by the network divided by the total length of the links between points. A planar network can be represented on a flat surface; a non-planar network exists in three dimensions. See accessibility, alpha index, beta index, connectivity.

1. An aggregate of interconnected electric conductors consisting of high-voltage feeders, step-down transformers, protective devices, mains, and services.
2. In CPM terminology, the same as arrow diagram.

A mesh-like structure of interlocking fibers or strands.

• immunological n. — idiotypes produced in an immune response may in turn act as antigens, provoking anti-idiotype antibodies with idiotypes that also may act as antigens, leading to a network of interacting reactions. Considered to be the possible basis for the overall regulation of immune responses.

• Attitudes and Behavior - networking: developing and maintaining a system of professional contacts aimed at furthering one's career
• Mental States, Processes, and Behavior - networking: developing personal contacts for exchange of information or furthering of one’s career

Look up network or networking in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Network and networking may refer to:

Contents 1 Mathematics 2 Electric, electronic, biological, and biosocial 3 Proper nouns (names) 4 See also

Mathematics

• Graph (mathematics), a set of interlinked nodes
• Complex network, a graph with non-trivial topological features
• Flow network

Electric, electronic, biological, and biosocial

• Electrical network
• Computer network
• Biological network
• Artificial neural network
• Social network
• Business networking
• Radio network
• Telecommunications network
• Television network
• Universities network
• Networks in Marketing

Proper nouns (names)

• Network (film), a 1976 American movie
• NETWORK (lobbying group), an American social justice group
• The Network, an American New Wave band
• Network (comics), a series of Thomas characters
• Network DVD, British DVD label
• The Network (Book), an upcoming American Science Fiction Novel written by Jesse Booth

See also

• Network theory
• Network science
• Graph theory
• Circuit theory
• Electronic circuit
• Pneumatic circuit
• Hydraulic circuit

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
n. - netværk
v. intr. - at arbejde sammen i et netværk, at transmittere

idioms:

• network interface card    netværkskort (til computer)

Nederlands (Dutch)
netwerk, omroep, hoogspanningsnet, d.m.v. netwerk uitzenden/ verbinden

Français (French)
n. - réseau, grille
v. intr. - (Comput) interconnecter (des ordinateurs), être interconnecté dans (un réseau d'ordinateurs), tisser un réseau de relations, diffuser dans tout le pays (un programme, TV, etc)

idioms:

• network interface card    (Comput) carte réseau

Deutsch (German)
n. - Netz, Sender, Netzwerk
v. - (im ganzen Sendebereich) ausstrahlen, sich ein Netz schaffen, über Netzwerk kommunizieren

idioms:

• network interface card    Netz-Interfacekarte

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - δίκτυο, δικτύωμα, δικτυωτό
v. - εκπέμπω με δίκτυο σταθμών

idioms:

• network interface card    (Η/Υ) κάρτα διασύνδεσης δικτύου

Italiano (Italian)
rete, rete radiofonica

Português (Portuguese)
n. - cadeia de estações de rádio ou televisão, trabalho (m) reticular, rede (f)
v. - reticular, enredar, ligar em rede

Русский (Russian)
сеть, телерадиокомпания

Español (Spanish)
n. - red, malla, canal, cadena, tejido, sistema
v. intr. - conectar en red, entablar relaciones sociales para hacer negocios, transmitir en cadena nacional

idioms:

• network interface card    tarjeta de conexión a la red

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - nät, nätverk, system, sändarnät, stationsnät, radio/TV-bolag
v. - koppla(s)in i ett datanätverk, bygga upp kontakter, sända ut

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
网眼织物, 网状系统, 网状物, 广播网, 用网覆盖, 在广播网联播, 被网覆盖

idioms:

• network interface card    网络卡

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 網眼織物, 網狀系統, 網狀物, 廣播網
v. tr. - 用網覆蓋, 在廣播網聯播
v. intr. - 被網覆蓋

idioms:

• network interface card    網路卡

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 연락망, 망세공, 회로망
v. intr. - 연결망을 설치하다, 방송망으로 방송하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 網状組織, 網状のもの, 放送網, ネットワーク, 網細工

idioms:

• old-boy network    学閥, 同窓生

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) شبكه, شبكه ( محطات اذاعه او تلفزيون او خطوط مواصلات الخ) (فعل) يقيم او ينشئ شبكه كهذه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮רשת, רשת תקשורת, רשת תחבורה, מערכת מחשבים הקשורים זה לזה, מערכת מוליכים חשמליים, קבוצת אנשים המחליפים ביניהם מידע מקצועי‬
v. intr. - ‮הקים רשת, התקשר עם אנשים אחרים כדי להחליף מידע‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.