Definition: network

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

network
     n 1: an intricately connected system of things or people; "a
          network of spies"; "a web of intrigue" [syn: web]
     2: communication system consisting of 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; "there was a hole in the network where some of
        the strands were broken"; "he used a copper frame with
        copper meshing" [syn: net, mesh, meshing, meshwork,
         reticulation]
     v : communicate with and within a group; "You have to network if
         you want to get a good job"

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

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.

Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (2003-OCT-10) 

network

   <networking> 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.]

   (1995-03-10)