local area network

noun
1.
a system for linking private telecommunications equipment, as in a building or cluster of buildings.
2.
Computers. a system for linking personal computers and workstations with each other in order to share data, devices, programs, etc.: usually confined to one office, building, or home.
Compare network (def 6).
Also, LAN.
Examples from the web for local area network
  • On your home local area network, voice will be fine.
  • Nor would you have been protected if your computer was part of a so-called local area network, or lan.
British Dictionary definitions for local area network

local area network

noun
1.
(computing) the linking of a number of different devices by cable within a system LAN
local area network in Science
local area network
  (lō'kəl)   
See LAN.
local area network in Technology
networking
(LAN) A data communications network which is geographically limited (typically to a 1 km radius) allowing easy interconnection of terminals, microprocessors and computers within adjacent buildings. Ethernet and FDDI are examples of standard LANs.
Because the network is known to cover only a small area, optimisations can be made in the network signal protocols that permit data rates up to 100Mb/s.
See also token ring, wide area network, metropolitan area network..
Usenet newsgroup: news:comp.dcom.lans.misc.
(1995-03-13)