node

1 a connecting point at which several lines come together

2 any thickened enlargement [syn: knob, thickening]

3 (physics) the point of minimum displacement in a periodic system [ant: antinode]

4 (astronomy) a point where an orbit crosses a plane

5 the source of lymph and lymphocytes [syn: lymph node, lymph gland]

6 any bulge or swelling of an anatomical structure or part

7 (computer science) any computer that is hooked up to a computer network [syn: client, guest]

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -əʊd

Noun

node (plural nodes)

1. A knot, a knob; a protuberance; a swelling.
2. The point where the orbit of a planet, as viewed from the sun, intersects the ecliptic. The ascending and descending nodes refer respetively to the points where the planet moves from S to N and N to S. The respective symbols are ☊ and ☋.
3. The joint of a stem, or the part where a leaf or several leaves are inserted.
4. A hole in the gnomon of a dial, through which passes the ray of light which marks the hour of the day, the parallels of the sun's declination, his place in the ecliptic, etc.
5. The point at which a curve crosses itself, being a double point of the curve. See Crunode, and Acnode.
6. The point at which the lines of a funicular machine meet from different angular directions; -- called also knot.
7. The knot, intrigue, or plot of a piece.
8. A hard concretion or incrustation which forms upon bones attacked with rheumatism, gout, or syphilis; sometimes also, a swelling in the neighborhood of a joint.
9. One of the fixed points of a sonorous string, when it vibrates by aliquot parts, and produces the harmonic tones; nodal line or point.
10. A swelling.
11. A vertex of a graph.
12. In the context of "computer networking": A vertex or a leaf in a graph of a network; a computer or other device attached to a network

Derived terms

• acnode
• crunode
• tacnode
• hardware node

Related terms

• knot
• nodal
• nodule

Synonyms

• In the context of "computer networking": host

Translations

See also

• neurode

Node may mean:

• Node (autonomous system), behaviour for an ordinary differential equation near a critical point
• Node (botany), the place on a plant stem where a leaf is attached
• Node (Doctor Who), a cyborg with a donated human face that is used as a guide in the universe's largest library. See Silence in the Library
• Node (physics), a spatial locus along a standing wave where the wave has minimal amplitude
• Node (telecommunications), an originating or terminating point of information transfer in a telecommunications network
• Node (mathematics), a vertex in a graph, connecting two or more edges
• Node (networking), a device connected to a network, such as a computer or router
• Node (computer science), a basic unit used to build data structures such as linked lists and trees
• Node (circuits), a region in an electrical circuit where there is no change in potential
• Transport node
• Node (computer gaming), a particular style of adventure game
• Node Magazine, a literary project based on the novel Spook Country by William Gibson

Node may also be:

• Artificial neuron, a basic unit in neural networks
• Vertex, one of the components of a graph
• A value that's used for function interpolation

Nodal may refer to:

• Nodal (protein), a protein involved in TGF beta signaling.

See also

• In other languages, the words for some meanings of "node" and "knot" are the same.

Gordian knot, amplitude, antinode, block, body, cake, clump, cluster, concrete, concretion, conglomerate, conglomeration, crest, crux, de Broglie wave, diffraction, dilemma, electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic wave, enigma, frequency, frequency band, frequency spectrum, guided wave, in phase, interference, knot, knotty point, light, longitudinal wave, lump, mass, mechanical wave, nodosity, nodulation, nodule, nodulus, nodus, nonplus, out of phase, oxymoron, paradox, period, periodic wave, perplexity, pons asinorum, poser, puzzle, quandary, radio wave, ray, reinforcement, resonance, resonance frequency, seismic wave, shock wave, solid, solid body, sound wave, surface wave, teaser, tidal wave, transverse wave, trough, vexed question, wave, wave equation, wave motion, wave number, wavelength