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

• bump
• knot
• lump
• nodule
• swelling

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

Four shiatsu massage nodes dig deep into muscles, helping work out those painful knots and kinks. —Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024

Risk analysis Between 2021 and 2025, Intel planned to achieve five processor nodes—Intel 7 and Intel 4 are already in use, Intel 3 is ready for high-volume manufacturing, and Intel 20A is set to debut with Arrow Lake processors, serving as a precursor to the more refined 18A node. —Gurufocus, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Glamour readers are fans of this basic under $50 foot massager, which has six massaging heads and 54 rotating nodes that knead their aches and pains. —Malia Griggs, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2024

But the eruption site, situated a short drive from the Icelandic capital on the southern Reykjanes peninsula, was more properly understood as one explosive node of a larger volcanic system, called Fagradalsfjall, where there had been three major events in the previous three years. —Jonah Walters, Longreads, 24 Oct. 2024

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

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