network

network — noun

IPA/ˈnetwɜːk/
KK[nˈɛtwˌɚk]IPA/ˈnetwɜːrk/
  • networksingular
  • networksplural

1. a set of connected lines, roads, wires, or pipes that carry things such as traff

1.nounB1
Definition

a set of connected lines, roads, wires, or pipes that carry things such as traffic, electricity, or communication signals from one place to another.

Example

The city's rail network connects all five districts with trains running every ten minutes.

collocation: rail network

A spider's web is a natural network of silk threads built to catch insects.

Common collocations
  • rail network
  • road network
  • communication network
  • transport network
  • network of pipes
  • network of cables
Synonyms
  • system

    broader term; a system does not need to have physical connections (a legal system, an education system)

  • grid

    suggests a regularly spaced, crossing arrangement, especially for electricity or roads

  • web

    suggests a complex, tangled set of connections, often natural or invisible

Grammar Patterns

network + of + noun

Usage Note

Often used with an area noun (road network, rail network, canal network) to show which kind of system is being described.

2. a group of computers and devices that are linked so that data and resources can

2.nounA2
Definition

a group of computers and devices that are linked so that data and resources can be shared.

Example

The office network went down after a power cut, so nobody could access their emails.

collocation: office network

Rodrigo set up a home network so his printer could work with every family laptop.

collocation: home network

Common collocations
  • computer network
  • wireless network
  • home network
  • office network
  • network connection
  • network security
Synonyms
  • LAN

    Local Area Network; a technical term for a small, physically close network

  • system

    more general term that may include software and non-networked machines

Grammar Patterns

noun + network

network + of + noun

Usage Note

Can be shortened to net in informal computing contexts (company net, home net). The word internet (capital I) refers to the global network that connects smaller networks worldwide.

Common Mistakes

My computer can't network the internet.
My computer can't connect to the network.
A network is a thing you join, not an action you perform on a computer.

3. the people you know, especially those who can help you with your work or career.

3.nounB1
Definition

the people you know, especially those who can help you with your work or career.

Example

Talia built a strong network of former colleagues who still share job leads with her.

verb + network: build a network of [people]

Having a good network of local suppliers helped Vikram's restaurant survive the crisis.

Common collocations
  • professional network
  • social network
  • build a network
  • expand your network
  • network of contacts
  • network of friends
Synonyms
  • contacts

    more direct and practical; a contact is someone you can reach out to for a specific purpose

  • connections

    slightly informal; emphasises the relationships between people rather than the group itself

  • circle

    suggests a smaller, more personal group of friends or acquaintances

Grammar Patterns

possessive + network

network + of + people

Usage Note

Frequently modified by adjectives describing the circle (professional network, social network, personal network). A social network today often refers to an online platform (Facebook, LinkedIn), but the original meaning is simply the people you know.

Common Mistakes

I have a large network saved on my phone.
I have a large network of contacts.
Network refers to people, not data stored on a device.
Idioms

the old boy network

idiom

A system where people in powerful positions help their friends or former classmates get jobs or advantages.

Sara got the job through the old boy network, not her skills.

Many companies still rely on the old boy network for hiring managers.

network — verb

IPA/ˈnet.wɜːk/
KK[nˈɛtwˌɚk]IPA/ˈnet.wɝːk/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe connected sets of parts, but they differ in the type of connection implied. System is the broadest — it can describe any organised set of parts working together, whether physically connected or not (the legal system, a sound system). Grid suggests a regular, crossing pattern of lines, most commonly used for electricity supply (power grid) or city street layouts. Web emphasises complexity and entanglement, as in a web of lies or a spider's web; it often implies something fragile or intricate. Mesh is denser and more uniform, like a wire mesh or fishnet — the connections are close and evenly spaced. For physical infrastructure with clear paths (roads, railways, cables), network is the most natural choice. For abstract or irregular connections, web fits better. For a planned, rectangular layout, grid is the strongest option.

system ↗grid ↗web ↗mesh ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • network system
  • network infrastructure
  • network management

Phrases

  • part of a network

Prepositions

  • network of

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Network comes from two Old English words: net (a mesh of woven threads) and weorc (the product of making something). In the 1500s, the combined form netwerk described fabrics made of interwoven threads, like a net. By the 1800s, the word was applied to railway lines, telegraph wires, and water pipes — systems that physically spread across a landscape. The computing sense arrived in the 1960s when early machines were linked to share processing power. The social and business meaning (to network, a network of contacts) became common in the 1980s, drawing on the idea of people being connected like points on a web.