node

noun

ˈnōd 

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 sense 2b

Synonyms of node

• nodule
• swelling
• lump
• bump
• tumor

Examples of node in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Museum Rietberg’s own collection of nineteenth- and twentieth-century photographs taken in Asia and Africa are also interwoven throughout the exhibition — unadorned reference points that serve as nodes between which the artists’ refractory works resonate. —The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 10 June 2026

Each House member was a node, and each contribution created a link from one member to another. —Mayank Kejriwal, The Conversation, 10 June 2026

Use clean scissors or pruning shears to cut stems just below a leaf node. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 June 2026

Harvest basil when plants are 6–8 inches tall, removing leaves from the top or trimming stems above nodes. —Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing node

• angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia
• atrioventricular node
• A-V node
• giant lymph node hyperplasia
• lymph node
• mucocutaneous lymph node disease
• mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome
• node of Ranvier
• sinoatrial node
• sinus node

Rhymes for node

• blowed
• bode
• code
• crowed
• flowed
• glowed
• goad
• growed
• knowed
• load
• lode
• lowed

Kids Definition

node

noun

ˈnōd 

1

a

: a thickened or swollen enlargement (as of a joint with rheumatism)

b

: a mass of tissue in the body resembling a knot

2

: a point on a stem at which a leaf is inserted

Medical Definition

node

noun

ˈnōd 

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