local area network

noun

: a network of personal computers in a small area (such as an office) for sharing resources (such as a printer) or exchanging data

called also LAN

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Local Network Game Transfers, now available on the beta Steam client, allow a player to transfer an existing Steam game installation from one PC to another over a local area network (LAN). —PCMAG, 17 Feb. 2023

All of these describe private cellular, which effectively takes cellular technology and repurposes it for use on your enterprise local area network (LAN). —Jennifer Minella, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2021

When the devices, intended to remain on local area networks, become exposed to the public Internet, perhaps unintentionally through misconfigurations, that's when problems arise. —Robert Hackett, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2019

Basically, Oppo devices will be able to create ad hoc local area networks across a wide area and communicate directly to each other without the need for base stations. —Sam Byford, The Verge, 26 June 2019

The standards are organized into groups; IEEE 802 covers all local area network standards. —Peter Bright, Ars Technica, 3 Oct. 2018

Dial-up Wide-Area Network Game Operation—service, which launched in 1994, though the most popular (and most fun) way of playing was to have a LAN (local area network) party in which players tethered their computers and blasted away at each other. —The Strong Museum Of Play, Ars Technica, 2 June 2018

So in addition to the radio network backbone, Cisco and Dimension Data installed wired local area networks at each of the reserve's four vehicle gates. —Sean Gallagher, Ars Technica, 6 June 2018

For the first time, researchers have exploited the Rowhammer memory-chip weakness using nothing more than network packets sent over a local area network. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 10 May 2018

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Word History

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

local area network

noun

: a computer network that spans a small area (as an office building)