node

[nohd] /noʊd/
noun
1.
a knot, protuberance, or knob.
2.
a centering point of component parts.
3.
Anatomy. a knotlike mass of tissue:
lymph node.
4.
Pathology. circumscribed swelling.
5.
Botany.
  1. a joint in a stem.
  2. a part of a stem that normally bears a leaf.
6.
Mathematics, knot (def 12).
7.
Geometry. a point on a curve or surface at which there can be more than one tangent line or tangent plane.
8.
Physics. a point, line, or region in a standing wave at which there is relatively little or no vibration.
9.
Astronomy. either of the two points at which the orbit of a heavenly body intersects a given plane, especially the plane of the ecliptic or of the celestial equator.
Compare ascending node, descending node.
10.
Linguistics. an element of a tree diagram that represents a constituent of a linguistic construction.
11.
Optics. nodal point.
12.
Engineering, panel point.
13.
nodus.
Origin
1565-75; < Latin nōdus knot
Examples from the web for nodes
  • For one thing, power accrues to the proprietors of the central nodes on the global computer.
  • Cities, the largest and densest human settlements, are the nodes of human society.
  • The cells of an organism are nodes in a richly interwoven communications network, transmitting and receiving, coding and decoding.
  • Some of the potentially harmful ink ends up in the body's lymph nodes, part of the immune system.
  • Cars have become nodes on smart networks, reducing accidents, stress and fuel consumption.
  • The nodes of the tree denote the common ancestors of all the tips connected to that node.
  • These structures function as the lymph nodes of the eye, trapping unwanted dirt and detritus.
  • nodes in an evolutionary tree correspond to novel characteristics.
  • All six of the excised lymph nodes were malignant, a bad sign.
  • Computer simulations have produced vast web structures of this stuff where real matter is supposed to gravitate at the web nodes.
British Dictionary definitions for nodes

node

/nəʊd/
noun
1.
a knot, swelling, or knob
2.
the point on a plant stem from which the leaves or lateral branches grow
3.
(physics) a point at which the amplitude of one of the two kinds of displacement in a standing wave has zero or minimum value. Generally the other kind of displacement has its maximum value at this point See also standing wave Compare antinode
4.
(maths) Also called crunode. a point at which two branches of a curve intersect, each branch having a distinct tangent
5.
(maths, linguistics) one of the objects of which a graph or a tree consists; vertex
6.
(astronomy) either of the two points at which the orbit of a body intersects the plane of the ecliptic. When the body moves from the south to the north side of the ecliptic, it passes the ascending node; moving from the north to the south side, it passes the descending node
7.
(anatomy)
  1. any natural bulge or swelling of a structure or part, such as those that occur along the course of a lymphatic vessel (lymph node)
  2. a finger joint or knuckle
8.
(computing) an interconnection point on a computer network
See also nod off, nod out
Word Origin
C16: from Latin nōdus knot
Word Origin and History for nodes

node

n.

early 15c., "a knot or lump," from Latin nodus "knot" (see net (n.)). Originally borrowed c.1400 in Latin form, meaning "lump in the flesh." Meaning "point of intersection" (originally of planetary orbits with the ecliptic) first recorded 1660s.

nodes in Medicine

node (nōd)
n.

  1. A knob, knot, protuberance, or swelling.

  2. A protuberant growth or swelling in a tissue.

  3. A knuckle or finger joint.

nodes in Science
node
  (nōd)   

  1. Anatomy A small mass or lump of body tissue that either occurs naturally, as in the case of lymph nodes, or is a result of disease.

  2. Botany

    1. A point on a stem where a leaf is or has been attached.

    2. A swelling or lump on a tree; a knob or knot.

    3. Either of the two points on the celestial sphere at which the path of a revolving body, such as the Moon, a planet, or a comet, intersects the ecliptic. ◇ The point at which the body traverses from south of the ecliptic to north is the ascending node. The opposite point, when the body traverses the ecliptic from north to south, is the descending node.

    4. Either of the two points at which the orbit of an artificial satellite intersects the equatorial plane of the planet it is orbiting.

  3. Physics A point or region of a vibrating or oscillating system, such as the standing wave of a vibrating guitar string, at which the amplitude of the vibration or oscillation is zero. Harmonic frequencies in oscillating systems always have nodes. Compare antinode.

  4. Astronomy

    1. Either of the two points on the celestial sphere at which the path of a revolving body, such as the Moon, a planet, or a comet, intersects the ecliptic. ◇ The point at which the body traverses from south of the ecliptic to north is the ascending node. The opposite point, when the body traverses the ecliptic from north to south, is the descending node.

    2. Either of the two points at which the orbit of an artificial satellite intersects the equatorial plane of the planet it is orbiting.

  5. Computer Science A computer or a peripheral that is connected to a network.