node

noun
\ ˈnōd How to pronounce node (audio) \

Definition of node

1a : a pathological swelling or enlargement (as of a rheumatic joint)
b : a discrete mass of one kind of tissue enclosed in tissue of a different kind
2 : an entangling complication (as in a drama) : predicament
3 : either of the two points where the orbit of a planet or comet intersects the ecliptic also : either of the points at which the orbit of an earth satellite crosses the plane of the equator
4a : a point, line, or surface of a vibrating body or system that is free or relatively free from vibratory motion
b : a point at which a wave has an amplitude of zero
5a : a point at which subsidiary parts originate or center
b : a point on a stem at which a leaf or leaves are inserted
c : a point at which a curve intersects itself in such a manner that the branches have different tangents

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Synonyms for node

Synonyms

bump, knot, lump, nodule, swelling

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Examples of node in a Sentence

the doctor examined the node on my knee before deciding it was the result of arthritis

Recent Examples on the Web

As these nodes failed, the result was multiple outages across CenturyLink's network. Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, "How malformed packets caused CenturyLink’s 37-hour, nationwide outage," 19 Aug. 2019 In 2021, Intel expects to transition to the 7nm manufacturing process node, an aggressive change of pace that will put Intel back on the pace of change defined by Moore’s Law, Swan said. Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Intel will increase low-end CPU production now that its 10nm Ice Lake transition is complete," 25 July 2019 Saturn and Pluto align with the south node showing a release of the structures which have held you back in the past. Rebecca Gordon, Harper's BAZAAR, "Eclipse Season July 2019 and What it Means for You," 2 July 2019 Early cyberspace utopians thought censorship would soon be obsolete: the internet would treat it as a broken node and route around it. The Economist, "The unacknowledged legislators of the online world," 14 June 2019 Nadal’s version of this idea is called GUN, which stands for graph universe node. NBC News, "These technologists think the internet is broken. So they're building another one.," 21 July 2019 Many Eastern Mediterranean food traditions sprang up at nodes along early trade routes where kaleidoscopic ingredient diversity and swirling cultural influences often passed through a single meal. Ali Bouzari, SFChronicle.com, "Housemade: The science behind a feast of flavor pairings at Kismet in Los Angeles," 12 July 2019 But no one can spend their coins twice, because once a transaction is recorded in the ledger, every node in the network will know about it. Klint Finley, WIRED, "The WIRED Guide to the Blockchain," 9 July 2019 Some of the details vary from Aldrin’s concept, but the basic elements are the same: nodes in low-Earth orbit and lunar orbit, tugs moving in between, mining propellant from the Moon and relying on smaller launch vehicles. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "Buzz Aldrin is looking forward, not back—and he has a plan to bring NASA along," 9 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'node.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of node

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for node

Middle English, from Latin nodus knot, node; akin to Middle Irish naidm bond

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More Definitions for node

node

noun

English Language Learners Definition of node

technical
: a small lump or mass of tissue in your body
: the small round part on the stem of a plant where a leaf grows
: a place where lines in a network cross or meet

node

noun
\ ˈnōd How to pronounce node (audio) \

Kids Definition of node

: a thickened spot or part (as of a plant stem where a leaf develops)

node

noun
\ ˈnōd How to pronounce node (audio) \

Medical Definition of node

1a : a pathological swelling or enlargement (as of a rheumatic joint)
b : a body part resembling a knot especially : a discrete mass of one kind of tissue enclosed in tissue of a different kind — see atrioventricular node, lymph node
2 : a point, line, or surface of a vibrating body that is free or relatively free of vibratory motion

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