Definition: node

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

node
     n 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]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Node \Node\, n. [L. nodus; perh. akin to E. knot. Cf. Noose,
   Nowed.]
   1. A knot, a knob; a protuberance; a swelling.

   2. Specifically:
      (a) (Astron.) One of the two points where the orbit of a
          planet, or comet, intersects the ecliptic, or the
          orbit of a satellite intersects the plane of the orbit
          of its primary.
      (b) (Bot.) The joint of a stem, or the part where a leaf
          or several leaves are inserted.
      (c) (Dialing) 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.
      (d) (Geom.) The point at which a curve crosses itself,
          being a double point of the curve. See Crunode, and
          Acnode.
      (e) (Mech.) The point at which the lines of a funicular
          machine meet from different angular directions; --
          called also knot. --W. R. Johnson.
      (f) (poet.) The knot, intrigue, or plot of a piece.
      (g) (Med.) 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. --Dunglison.
      (h) (Mus) One of the fixed points of a sonorous string,
          when it vibrates by aliquot parts, and produces the
          harmonic tones; nodal line or point.
      (i) (Zo["o]l.) A swelling.

   Ascending node (Astron.), the node at which the body is
      passing northerly, marked with the symbol [astascending],
      called the Dragon's head. Called also northern node.

   Descending node, the node at which the body is moving
      southwardly, marked thus [astdescending], called Dragon's
      tail.

   Line of nodes, a straight line joining the two nodes of an
      orbit.

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

node

   1. A point or vertex in a graph.

   2. An addressable device attached to a computer network.
   More often called a "host".

   3. A hypertext document.

Source: Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001)

node n. 1. [Internet, UUCP] A host machine on the network. 2. [MS-DOS
   BBSes] A dial-in line on a BBS. Thus an MS-DOS sysop might say that
   his BBS has 4 nodes even though it has a single machine and no Internet
   link, confusing an Internet hacker no end.