node

noun \ ˈnōd \

Definition of node

1 a :a pathological swelling or enlargement (as of a rheumatic joint)

b :a discrete mass of one kind of tissue enclosed in tissue of a different kind

2 :an entangling complication (as in a drama) :predicament

3 :either of the two points where the orbit of a planet or comet intersects the ecliptic; also :either of the points at which the orbit of an earth satellite crosses the plane of the equator

4 a :a point, line, or surface of a vibrating body or system that is free or relatively free from vibratory motion

b :a point at which a wave has an amplitude of zero

5 a :a point at which subsidiary parts originate or center

b :a point on a stem at which a leaf or leaves are inserted

c :a point at which a curve intersects itself in such a manner that the branches have different tangents

d :vertex 1b

See node defined for English-language learners

See node defined for kids

Examples of node in a Sentence

the doctor examined the node on my knee before deciding it was the result of arthritis

Recent Examples of node from the Web

Doctors had found a spot on his lung, which then spread to his lymph nodes.

— ted jackson, NOLA.com, "Sugarlands - The Untold Story," 20 Aug. 2017
But a regular screening on March 10 led to a biopsy being done, which revealed the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes.

— michael kelly, The Seattle Times, "Rockies RHP Bettis returns after cancer treatment," 14 Aug. 2017
In the year after the kidney transplant, Emily was diagnosed with stage 3 lymphoma, had her lymph nodes removed from her neck as well as her adenoids, and started chemotherapy.

— andy kopsa, Cosmopolitan, "What It's Like to Raise a Child With a Terminal Illness in America," 1 Aug. 2017
Symptoms of swimmer’s ear include itchiness, redness, fluid drainage, decreased or muffled hearing, fever, and swollen lymph nodes around the ear or upper neck.

— alyssa terk, md, Philly.com, "How to avoid swimmer's ear," 1 Aug. 2017
Studio City, $$ Ted Hopson’s tuna crudo is fanned out above a node of Calabrian chiles.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Los Angeles Magazine Hot Restaurant List for July 2017," 18 July 2017
There are correlations between ETNO nodes and inclinations where none should exist, meaning the objects seem group together during parts of their orbit for no apparent reason.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Astronomers Find New Evidence for Existence of Planet Nine," 12 July 2017
By studying the distribution of ETNO nodes—the points in orbit where the ETNOs cross the plane of the solar system—astronomers from the Complutense University of Madrid believe there must be a planet beyond Pluto affecting the orbits of the ETNOs.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Astronomers Find New Evidence for Existence of Planet Nine," 12 July 2017
Dates, nodes and character conflict: addressing the lissamphibian origin problem.

— darren naish, Scientific American Blog Network, "The Microsaurs of Yore," 7 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'node.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of node

Middle English, from Latin nodus knot, node; akin to Middle Irish naidm bond

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

node Synonyms

Synonyms

knot, lump, bump, nodule, swelling

Related Words

growth, tumor, wart; hump, hunch; bruise, contusion, welt; blister, boil; blob, chunk, clod, clump, gob, gobbet, hunk, knob, nub, nubble, nugget, wad

NODE Defined for English Language Learners

node

noun

Definition of node for English Language Learners

: a small lump or mass of tissue in your body
: the small round part on the stem of a plant where a leaf grows
: a place where lines in a network cross or meet

NODE Defined for Kids

node

noun \ ˈnōd \

Definition of node for Students

:a thickened spot or part (as of a plant stem where a leaf develops)

Medical Dictionary

node

noun \ ˈnōd \

medical Definition of node

1 a :a pathological swelling or enlargement (as of a rheumatic joint)

b :a body part resembling a knot; especially :a discrete mass of one kind of tissue enclosed in tissue of a different kind — see atrioventricular node, lymph node

2 :a point, line, or surface of a vibrating body that is free or relatively free of vibratory motion