Can anyone explain to me what a network is?

I have written to a company called Google who apparently answer questions, as follows:

Dear Mr Google

Re: Question to do with a 'network' or 'home network'

I have been invited by a colleague to participate in an eclectic competition in which I must describe something known as a 'network' or 'home network'. I am required to create a paen of sagacious, scintillating nature which propagates a tintinnabulation of joy in the worthy gentlemen and ladies who are, by virtue of their unfeigned and voluminous exactitude, placed in the position of judge and jury in the matter before them.

A friend, whose opinion I find to be of such reliability as to be beyond disapprobation viz. the outcome of his conversational benefaction, offered an apothegm suggesting that I, your correspondent, should contact you in order to obtain further divulgences that would better acquaint me with the concept of a 'network', vis a vis the competition referred to above.

Thus it is that I find myself sat here at my desk, Cratchett-like, quill in hand and hoping that my meagre correspondence will elicit mental effulgence leading to erudition in respect of the aforementioned 'network' conundrum. I look forward to hearing from you - most ideally instant if possible but early proximo would suffice for my purpose - with further enlightenment.

Your ability to answer questions is, I find upon conversing with those I have met on assorted and diverse peregrinations, both prodigious and punctilious. I trust you will find my missive propitious.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant

etc.

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