network /; AmE / noun, verb

■ noun [C]

BACKBONE NETWORK, FIXED NETWORK, LOCAL AREA NETWORK, RUN OF NETWORK, WIDE AREA NETWORK

1

a group of people, companies, etc. that exchange information or work together for a particular purpose:

a communications/distribution network

2 (IT )

a number of computers and other devices that are connected together so that equipment and information can be shared:

The office network allows users to share files and software, and to use a central printer.

Bonds are traded among dealers who are connected via telephone and computer networks.

⇨ LAN, WAN

■ verb

1 (IT ) [+ obj]

to connect a number of computers and other devices together so that equipment and information can be shared:

networked computer systems

You can network your computers to share files, printers and an Internet connection.

2 [no obj]

to try to meet and talk to people who may be useful to you in your work:

Conferences are a good place to network.

• hard code
• hard commodity
• hard copy
• hard core
• hard-core
• hard costs
• hard currency
• hard data
• hard disk
• hard-earned
• harden
• hard goods
• hard hat
• hard HRM
• hard landing
• hard loan
• hard-nosed
• hard-pressed
• hard sell
• hard selling
• hardship
• hardship allowance
• hard up
• hardware
• hard-wired