nodo

Nodo is a term used in several Romance languages, notably Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, meaning knot or node. In scientific and everyday usage it refers to a point of connection or a location where things join. The English cognate "node" shares the same core sense, and the two terms are often used interchangeably in multilingual texts.

In graph theory and computer networks, a node is a fundamental unit representing an entity such as a person, device, or data point. Nodes are connected by edges or links, forming networks, graphs, or trees. The properties of nodes, such as degree and centrality, help describe structure, flow, and resilience.

In biology and medicine, a lymph node is a small, bean-shaped organ of the immune system that filters lymph and hosts immune cells. Nodes can become enlarged in infection, inflammation, or disease, and their examination is a common diagnostic tool in medicine.

In botany, a node is the point on a plant stem where leaves, buds, or branches are attached. The interval between nodes is the internode. Nodes are important in growth, pruning, grafting, and in determining a plant's pattern of development.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from Latin nodus meaning knot; in Romance languages "nodo" retains that sense of a knot or joined point. In English, "node" is widely used for mathematics, computing, biology, and botany, reflecting a common idea of connected points.