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 {protocol}s used.

See {BITNET}, {Ethernet}, {Internet}, {Novell}, {PSTN},

{network, the}.

[Tanenbaum, A., "Computer Networks; 2nd ed.", Prentice Hall,

Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1989.]

(1995-03-10)