internet

1. Alternative letter-case form of Internet (“the specific internet consisting of a global network of computers that communicate using Internet Protocol (IP) and that use Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) to identify the best paths to route those communications”).

   Most newspapers are available on the internet now.

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   The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast about "creating compelling content", or offering services that let you "stay up to date with what your friends are doing", "share the things you love with the world" and so on.

   2013 June 21, Oliver Burkeman, “Conscious computing: How to take control of your life online”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 13 Mar 2022

   He was able to do this because the internet, which had been publicly available since January 1983, enabled it.

   2024 May 4, John Naughton, “The internet is in decline – it needs rewilding”, in The Guardian

   Telegram founder Pavel Durov has levelled a serious accusation against Reliance, claiming Reliance disrupted access to Telegram for users outside India through a practice known as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) hijacking. The allegation, made publicly on X platform, has reignited debate around internet infrastructure, platform competition and government regulation. The claims remain unverified, and Reliance has not publicly responded. To understand the significance of the allegation, it is important to understand how the internet works. BGP is often described as the internet’s routing system. Every message sent on Telegram, every file downloaded and every connection established depends on networks around the world knowing where Telegram’s servers are located. BGP acts as the digital map that directs this traffic across thousands of interconnected networks. When functioning normally, BGP ensures data reaches its destination efficiently. However, if a network incorrectly or falsely announces itself as the preferred route for certain internet traffic, that traffic can be redirected, delayed or dropped entirely. This is commonly known as BGP hijacking.

   2026 June 17, John Xavier, “Telegram CEO Durov’s allegation on Reliance role in access disruption needs evidence”, in The Hindu

2. Alternative letter-case form of Internet (“global community of individuals communicating via the Internet”).

   As soon as the trailer was released, the internet went nuts.

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   In 2014, a hot dog entrepreneur, Laura Ustick, general manager of Superdawg in Chicago, Illinois, asked the internet to get behind her in support of the Emoji Hot Dog.

   2015, Emojis: the secret behind the smile, page 41

   On Friday, as the internet reacted to the video of Thomas getting arrested for walking in the street, the city rushed out a statement explaining what happened around noon last Wednesday.

   2016, Star Tribune 2016-10-19, page 5

   One of their most recognised challenges was posting a photo of an animal from their collection and challenging users to Photoshop that image into other paintings. @TheMERL gave the call to action and the internet answered.

   2021, The Complete Guide to Digital Marketing for Museums, page 64

plural internets

1. uncountableInternet access or connection; internet connectivity.

   Do you have internet at your place? My internet is down and I want to check my email.

2. countableAny set of computer networks that communicate using the Internet Protocol; an intranet.
3. InternetcountablehumorousuncountableA fictitious unit of scoring awarded for making outstanding posts on the internet.

   You win one internet.

   2011 November 12, David Johnston, “What Did You Watch? 2011-11-10 (Thursday)”, in rec.arts.tv (Usenet)

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   You did a nice job there Patty … you came off as intelligent, well-spoken, and concerned about the well being of the victims, in stark contrast to the self-serving, uncaring, unconcerned attitude of the Narconon spokeswoman. 100 internets for you!

   2008 April 5, “Anonology”, “Narconon Exposed tonight on Canadian TV”, in alt.religion.scientology (Usenet)

   I have been looking through CupOJoes and kind of want something dark with a silver band between the bit and the bowl [of the pipe]. That's not a must, but 1000 internets go to the first person to find one.

   2010 August 7, “Bilbo”, “Looking for a Billiard”, in alt.smokers.pipes (Usenet)

   I hope this is sarcastic. Otherwise -100 internets for you.

   2011 October 14, Unifarva@sticklerboi.com, “10 Not So Insanely Great Things Apple Released Under Steve Jobs”, in rec.sport.pro-wrestling (Usenet)

   Do I win an internet?

   2013 February 26, Devon H. O’Dell, “[9fans] Ancient History: ‘Electronic Mail Without Aliases’”, in comp.os.plan9 (Usenet)

4. InternetcountablehumorousuncountableThe knowledge or ability to read the room, especially to avoid being politically incorrect, chiefly to make light of someone's lack of such knowledge, implied to be gained only from active use of social media.

   "He don't got Internet y'all," one fan wrote. Another declared: "That’s it, I will no longer be listening to any YB music."

   2025 July 25, Cole Blake, “NBA YoungBoy Shocks Fans By Defending Donald Trump On New Song, "XXX"”, in HotNewHipHop, archived from the original on 30 Jul 2025

present singular third person internets · participle present internetting · participle past internetted · past internetted

1. InternetinformalintransitiveTo use the internet; specifically, to search for information by using the internet.

   Having no idea what that means, I am internetting like mad.

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   We have several groups of Internetters, from Alaska, from New Zealand, and a group from San Francisco interested in deserts as a context where different faiths developed. Internetting with them could stimulate discussion. Internetting with other countries is seen as a way of broadening the students' areas of interest and triggering their questions.

   2002, Soshana Keiny, “The Conceptual Framework of the Book”, in Ecological Thinking: A New Approach to Educational Change, Lanham, Md.; New York, N.Y.: University Press of America, →ISBN, page 14

   Most of us, before and after the second uprising, can be found in schools, offices, or factories, going about our everyday lives. Dreaming, working hard for a future. Texting, internetting, entertaining ourselves in the present.

   2005, Vincente L. Rafael, “The Cell Phone and the Crowd: Messianic Politics in the Contemporary Philippines”, in Daniel Rosenberg, Susan Harding, editors, Histories of the Future, Durham, N.C.; London: Duke University Press, →ISBN, page 87

   I collect cookbooks, too. And recipes, you know, that I've internetted.

   2021, Shirley Goldberg, chapter 15, in Eat Your Heart Out (Starting Over; 2), [Adams Basin, N.Y.?]: The Wild Rose Press, →ISBN

present singular third person internets · participle present internetting · participle past internetted · past internetted

1. ambitransitivearchaicrareTo entwine or link (several things) together, so as to form a network; to interconnect, to network.

   ARTHROPYRENIA. Mass. Paraphyses loosely branching and internetting or absent; spores 2 to 6-locular, colorless, ovoid or oblong.

   1913 June 9, Hermann Edward Hasse, “Systematic Treatment”, in The Lichen Flora of Southern California (Smithsonian Institution, Bulletin of the United States National Museum, Contributions from the United States National Herbarium; 17, part 1), Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 11

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   A railroad performs in a single day as much work as a ship in a whole year. This is done, too, in the midst of society, internetted among the cities, the farms, the dwellings of the people.

   1856 March, John O’Fallon et al., “Article IV. Report on the ‘Overland Mail’ from Missouri to California.”, in M. Tarver, H. Cobb, editors, The Western Journal and Civilian, Devoted to Agriculture, Manufactures, Mechanic Arts, Internal Improvement, Commerce, Public Policy, and Polite Literature, volume XV, number 4, St. Louis, Mo.: […] M. Niedner & Co., […], →OCLC, page 250

   With 1849 began the organization of the secret societies, which, regulated from Piedmont, internetted the entire southern peninsula.

   1862 September, “The Two Sicilies in 1862. [First Notice.]”, in [Charles Patrick Meehan], editor, Duffy’s Hibernian Sixpenny Magazine, volume II (New Series), number 9, Dublin; London: James Duffy, […], →OCLC, page 284

   Thus silent and imperceptible is the webwork of material interests which are internetting the great family of nations with the bonds of peace.

   1864 November 1, Elihu Burritt, “Material Bonds of Peace”, in Bond of Brotherhood, number 172 (New Series), London: Job Caudwell, […]; Simpkin, Marshall & Co. and Kent & Co., →OCLC, page 370

   As the light filters through some gap in the topmost boughs into the damp atmosphere, it magnifies and confuses the foliage, and lights up thousands of monkey-ropes, or lianas, that hang from every branch through the forests and which stretch without beginning and without end, hanging loosely like gymnasium ropes, or swung up again in a giant loop, often twisting into fantastic knots as it internets with some other portion of the mighty cable.

   1909 November 13, H. P. FitzGerald Marriott, “Correspondence. The Wonders of Tropical Africa.”, in The Spectator: A Weekly Review of Politics, Literature, Theology, and Art, volume 103, number 4,246, London: F. C. Westley, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 780, column 1

   These studies finally resulted in the discovery of a membrane guanylate cyclase transduction system that is internetted with seven transmembrane receptor signaling system.

   2002 January, Rameshwar K. Sharma, “Evolution of the Membrane Guanylate Cyclase Transduction System”, in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry: An International Journal for Chemical Biology in Health and Disease, volume 230, number 1, Kluwer Academic Publishers, →DOI, →ISBN, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 12, column 2

   Synonyms: interweave

2. ambitransitivespecificallycomputingTo connect (a computer, an electronic device, etc.) into a computer network (in particular, the Internet).

   More efficient means of internetting the computers in the system must also be developed.

   1975 March 7, Malcolm R[oderick] Currie (witness), “Statement of Dr. Malcolm R. Currie, Director, Defense Research and Engineering, Accompanied by Laurin A. Knutson, Assistant Director (Programing) O.D.D.R. & E.”, in Fiscal Year 1976 and July–September 1976 Transition Period Authorization for Military Procurement, Research and Development, and Active Duty, Selected Reserve, and Civilian Personnel Strengths: Hearings before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, Ninety-forth Congress, First Session on S. 920 […] Part 6: Research and Development […], Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 2756

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   We are continuing our program of internetting our radar system with that of the Federal Aviation Agency.

   1966 February 14, Robert S[trange] McNamara (witness), “Statement of the Secretary of Defense”, in Department of Defense Appropriations for 1967: Hearings before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Eighty-ninth Congress, Second Session … Part 1 […], Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 59

   Other less dynamic examples of information networks include intelligence or military command centers, internetted with communications including different kinds of voice circuits, (i.e., encrypted and non encrypted), data communications, teletype, facsimile, and the like.

   1981 September 29, Stephen J[oseph] Lukasik (witness), “Statement of Stephen J. Lukasik, Chief Scientist, Office of Science and Technology, Federal Communications Commission”, in Emergency Management Information and Technology: Hearings before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight of the Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, Ninety-seventh Congress, First Session […] (no. 55), Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, published [1982], →OCLC, page 119

   […] Soviet interceptors have been internetted with radars, enabling the use of early-warning radars to track reentry vehicles for interception. […] [T]he Soviets have evidently internetted their SA-5, not with earlier mechanical radars, but with phased-array systems that are far more adequate for reentry vehice tracking purposes.

   1985 spring, Robert J. DeSutter, Jr., “SALT Nonviolations and the Evolution of a Compliance Policy”, in Robert J. DeSutter, Jr., compiler, Selected Readings and Documents on Postwar American Defense Policy, volume III, [Colorado Springs, Colo.: United States Air Force Academy]; Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page [1041]

   We hear that Air Force Intelligence has officially concluded the Soviets have rolled production lines to break out of the ABM treaty and deploy a nationwide anti-missile system, which could possibly be in place by next year. […] [T]he Soviets are internetting their early-warning radars […]

   1988 February 25, “Breakout”, in The Wall Street Journal, New York, N.Y.: Dow Jones & Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 20

   Question. How will the various radars of the Caribbean Basin Radar Network be internetted together? / Answer. […] These operation centers will also be internetted so as to share surveillance data and coordinate tracking/interdiction efforts.

   1990 April 5, John J. Welch Jr. (witness), Edward R. Bracken (witness), Thomas R. Ferguson (witness), “Missile and Other Procurement, Air Force”, in Department of Defense Appropriations for 1991: Hearings before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred First Congress, Second Session: Part 5 […], Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 432

alternative internet

1. The global, decentralized network of computers which communicate with one another using the Internet protocol suite, which now forms a vital part of global communication, content sharing, and information exchange systems.

   2008, Lou Schuler, "Foreword", in Nate Green, Built for Show, page xi [I]f you think the Internet existed in 1970, I can only guess that the education system has left at least one child behind.

2. broadlyinformalThe global community of individuals communicating via the Internet.

   Not to be confused with the Josh Hutcherson Saturday Night Live sketch that's almost impossible to find online, the tragedy of Peanut, an Instagram-famous squirrel that was euthanized late last month, has sent the internet into mourning.

   2024 November 4, Kate Lindsay, “Can We Please Not Politicize Peanut's Death?”, in Vulture, archived from the original on 24 Nov 2024

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   We know how much the Internet has changed America. And we are already an open society. Imagine how much it could change China. Now, there is no question – China has been trying to crack down on the Internet. Good luck. That's sort of like trying to nail Jell-O to the wall.

   2000 March 8, 32:26 from the start, in Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China, spoken by Bill Clinton, via C-SPAN, retrieved 17 Jun 2025