1. a private, secure path across a public network (usually the internet).
2. a private corporate network for use by employees to coordinate e-mail and communications.
3. type of network that allows an organization to permit outsiders, like customers or suppliers, to access part of its network.
4. network architecture in which one or more high-powered computers provide resources or services to other computers on the network.
5. a network where each computer is equal to others and maintains its own operating system and application software.