Network \Net"work`\, n.
     1. A fabric of threads, cords, or wires crossing each other
        at certain intervals, and knotted or secured at the
        crossings, thus leaving spaces or meshes between them.
  
     2. Any system of lines or channels interlacing or crossing
        like the fabric of a net; as, a network of veins; a
        network of railroads.

  network
       n 1: an intricately connected system of things or people; "a
            network of spies" or "a web of intrigue" [syn: web]
       2: a group of broadcasting stations that all transmit the same
          program simultaneously [syn: communications network]
       3: an interconnected or intersecting configuration or system of
          components [syn: net, mesh, meshwork, reticulation]
       v : communicate with and within a group; "You have to network if
           you want to get a good job"

  network
  
      Hardware and software data communication systems.
  
     The OSI seven layer model attempts to provide a way of
     partitioning any computer network into independent modules
     from the lowest (physical) layer to the highest (application)
     layer.  Many different specifications exist at each of these
     layers.
  
     Networks are often also classified according to their
     geographical extent: local area network (LAN), metropolitan
     area network (MAN), wide area network (WAN) and also
     according to the protocols used.
  
     See BITNET, Ethernet, Internet, Novell, PSTN,
     network, the.
  
     [Tanenbaum, A., "Computer Networks; 2nd ed.", Prentice Hall,
     Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1989.]
  
     (10 Mar 1995)