mesh

Noun

1. A structure made of connected strands of metal, fiber, or other flexible/ductile material, with evenly spaced openings between them.
2. The opening or space enclosed by the threads of a net between knot and knot, or the threads enclosing such a space.
3. The engagement of the teeth of wheels, or of a wheel and rack.
4. A measure of fineness (particle size) of ground material. A powder that passes through a sieve having 300 openings per linear inch but does not pass 400 openings per linear inch is said to be -300 +400 mesh.
5. A polygon mesh.
6. In mesh analysis: a loop in an electric circuit (to which Kirchhoff's voltage law can be applied).
7. A network topology with each device connected to multiple other devices in lieu of a central switch. Redundancy on a mesh network prevents single points of failure.

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To connect together by interlocking, as gears do.
2. (broadly, figuratively, intransitive) To fit in; to come together harmoniously.
3. (transitive) To catch in a mesh.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/mɛʃ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: mesche

Inherited from Old English: masc

Cognate with Old English: mæscre

Cognate with Old High German: māsca

Cognate with Old Saxon: maska

Cognate with Old Norse: mǫskvi

In summary

From Middle English mesche, from Old English masc (“net”) (perhaps influenced in form by related Old English mæscre (“mesh, spot”)) both from Proto-Germanic *maskrǭ, *maskwǭ, from Proto-Indo-European *mezg- (“to knit, twist, plait”).
Akin to Old High German māsca (“mesh”), Old Saxon maska (“net”), Old Norse mǫskvi, mǫskun (“mesh”).

Synonyms

net

netting

meshing

network

interlock

screen

loop

➿

engage

snare

stitch

interlocking

coordinate

operate

lock

🔒

gauze

eye

👁️

sieve

trap

🪤

meshwork

enmesh

grid

correlate

mesh topology

engagement

sifter

ensnarl

eyelet

noose

knitting

match

hook

🪝

bight

grip

join

web

crenation

becket

corral

bear upon

atone

connect

conciliate

bear on

concatenate

gate

come to

bars

arrange

gear

⚙️

affiliate

Translations

maglia

maille

malla

Masche

maas

steek

malha

vermaschen

rete

strik

breisteek

ingranare

einrücken

réseau

maillage