\Node\, n. [L. nodus; perh. akin to E. knot. Cf. {Noose},
{Nowed}.]
1. A knot, a knob; a protuberance; a swelling.
2. Specifically:
   (a) (Astron.) One of the two points where the orbit of a
       planet, or comet, intersects the ecliptic, or the
       orbit of a satellite intersects the plane of the orbit
       of its primary.
   (b) (Bot.) The joint of a stem, or the part where a leaf
       or several leaves are inserted.
   (c) (Dialing) A hole in the gnomon of a dial, through
       which passes the ray of light which marks the hour of
       the day, the parallels of the sun's declination, his
       place in the ecliptic, etc.
   (d) (Geom.) The point at which a curve crosses itself,
       being a double point of the curve. See {Crunode}, and
       {Acnode}.
   (e) (Mech.) The point at which the lines of a funicular
       machine meet from different angular directions; --
       called also {knot}. --W. R. Johnson.
   (f) (poet.) The knot, intrigue, or plot of a piece.
   (g) (Med.) A hard concretion or incrustation which forms
       upon bones attacked with rheumatism, gout, or
       syphilis; sometimes also, a swelling in the
       neighborhood of a joint. --Dunglison.
   (h) (Mus) One of the fixed points of a sonorous string,
       when it vibrates by aliquot parts, and produces the
       harmonic tones; nodal line or point.
   (i) (Zo["o]l.) A swelling.
{Ascending node} (Astron.), the node at which the body is
   passing northerly, marked with the symbol [astascending],
   called the Dragon's head. Called also {northern node}.
{Descending node}, the node at which the body is moving
   southwardly, marked thus [astdescending], called Dragon's
   tail.
{Line of nodes}, a straight line joining the two nodes of an
   orbit.