local area network: Meaning and Definition of

lo'cal ar'ea net'work

1. a system for linking private telecommunications equipment, as in a building or cluster of buildings.
2. a system for linking a number of microcomputers, terminals, work stations, etc. with each other or with a mainframe computer in order to share data, printers, information, programs, disks, etc.; usually confined to one office or building. Cf. network (def. 6).