It's called "network printer". Such printers usually have either wireless or LAN interface.
If your printer is network capable, it has own print server. Just connect the printer to the router. Then connect the printer as a network printer.
If you printer has a printer server attached or network compatible, the answer is yes you can.
If your printer is attached directly to your computer, you should share it (the way you do it depends of your operating system). If your printer is connected directly to your network (WiFi or Ethernet) it should be properly configured.
If the printer can connect to the wireless access point via ethernet and that the printer has been enabled to be used on a wireless network then in theory yes.
Connect your printer to one of computers, and share it for all computers in your network. Or if your printer has its own network interface, connect it directly to the router and use it (you might have to configure it for your network settings).
There are different kinds of printers. Some of them can be connected directly to network. If you have one of them just to that and then using ip address or name of your printer connect to it. If your printer cannot be connect directly to network, connect to your desktop and in the printer's properties choose share. After that check your network environment for shared printers, when you see what you are looking for double click on it, and you are all set.
You connect the printer and the other computers in a network - either by USB or Ethernet.
Yes, it can. You can use for printers with own NIC, or you can connect your printer to a printer server, or you can connect you printer to your router (not all routers support it), or you can connect the printer to your computer which is connected to the network and share the printer.
So, for some reason, you do not want to connect the printer directly to the laptop. To connect to the printer via another computer means creating a network, which requires a piece of equipment called a router. Also, both the laptop and the PC will have to have Ethernet capability, which may require installing a Network Interface Card in one or both of them. The printer will have to be configured as a network printer, which requires allowing sharing in the Network Folder on the Control Panel. Then, after you have established your network, you will have to install a network printer on to the laptop. This is done by double clicking on the 'Network Neighborhood' icon on the desktop, then right-clicking on the icon for the printer and selecting 'Install'.
This means that it is capable of functioning as a network printer (thus does not need to be connected directly to the computer) and can connect to a wireless network.
Ethernet and Wirless
An ethernet adapter is the component that allows you to connect to your internet modem or computer network. Upon connecting your ethernet cable, you will be able to access the internet or computer network to which you are connected.