network
UK[ˈnɛtwəːk]US[ˈnɛtˌwərk]
n
A system of interconnected people or things, especially computers, telecommunications, or social contacts.
n
A group of broadcasting stations that connect to broadcast the same programs simultaneously.
v
To connect or operate as a network.
Morpheme Breakdown
net
work
net
fabric, web
work
product of labor
Etymology
The word 'network' is a compound formed from two native English words of Germanic origin. 'Net' descends from Proto-Germanic natją, related to the craft of knotting threads to create a mesh for catching or holding. 'Work' stems from Proto-Germanic werkan, referring to an activity involving effort or its resulting product. Literally, a network is a "work made of net," a constructed web. This concrete meaning, originally applied to items like lace or fishing nets, evolved metaphorically in the 19th and 20th centuries to describe any interconnected system, from railways to radio broadcasts, and finally to the dominant modern sense of computer and social systems.
Analysis
Structure: net (fabric, web) + work (product of labor)
- net: From Old English 'nett', meaning an open fabric of cord, rope, or thread. Functional role: The core concept of an interconnected, meshed structure.
- work: From Old English 'weorc', meaning something made or done, the product of labor. Functional role: Denotes a constructed or organized system.
Examples
The office has a secure wireless network for all employees.
She used her professional network to find a new job.
The television network will air the championship game live.