nodal
|no-dal|
🇺🇸
/ˈnoʊdəl/
🇬🇧
/ˈnəʊdəl/
relating to a node
Etymology
'nodal' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'nodus', where 'nodus' meant 'knot' or 'node'.
'nodal' developed in English by adding the adjectival suffix '-al' to 'node' (from Latin 'nodus'); it was also influenced by Neo-Latin forms such as 'nodalis'.
Initially it referred to something 'of or relating to a knot' (from Latin), and over time it evolved into the current sense of 'relating to a node or an important/pivotal point' in scientific and figurative uses.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or of the nature of a node (a point, junction, or knot) — used in anatomy, mathematics, physics, and network analysis.
The engineers examined the nodal points of the electrical grid to improve stability.
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Adjective 2
pertaining to a nodal point or having a pivotal/central role (often used figuratively, e.g., 'nodal point').
The conference became a nodal moment for policy coordination among the countries.
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Last updated: 2025/11/09 09:05