What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Host vs Server - What's the difference?

host | server |

As nouns the difference between host and server

is that host is autumn (season) while server is server (a computer or software that provides services to other programs or users).

host

English

Alternative forms

* hoast (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) oste (French: . Used in English since 13th century.

Noun

(en noun)
  • One which receives or entertains a guest, socially, commercially, or officially.
  • * (and other bibliographic particulars) (Shakespeare)
  • Time is like a fashionable host , / That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand.
  • One that provides a facility for an event.
  • A person or organization responsible for running an event.
  • A moderator or master of ceremonies for a performance.
  • (computing, Internet) A in a network.
  • (computing, Internet) Any computer attached to a network.
  • (biology) A cell or organism which harbors another organism or biological entity, usually a parasite.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katie L. Burke
  • , title= In the News , volume=101, issue=3, page=193, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts : rodents.}}
  • (evolutionism, genetics) An organism bearing certain genetic material.
  • Consecrated bread such as that used in the Christian ceremony of the Eucharist.
  • A paid male companion offering conversation and in some cases sex, as in certain types of bar in Japan.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To perform the role of a host.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katie L. Burke
  • , title= In the News , volume=101, issue=3, page=193, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola.}}
  • (obsolete) To lodge at an inn.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Where you shall host .
  • (computing, Internet) To run software made available to a remote user or process.
  • * 1987 May 7, Selden E. Ball, Jr., Re: Ethernet Terminal Concentrators'', comp.protocols.tcp-ip, ''Usenet
  • CMU/TEK TCP/IP software uses an excessive amount of cpu resources for terminal support both outbound, when accessing another system, and inbound, when the local system is hosting a session.

    See also

    * guest * event * master of ceremonies

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) hoste, from Middle (etyl) ), cognate with etymology 1.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A multitude of people arrayed as an army; used also in religious senses, as: Heavenly host (of angels)
  • * 1843 , (Thomas Carlyle), '', book 3, ch. X, ''Plugson of Undershot
  • Why, Plugson, even thy own host is all in mutiny: Cotton is conquered; but the ‘bare backs’ — are worse covered than ever!
  • * 2001 , Carlos Parada, Hesione 2 , Greek Mythology Link
  • the invading host that had sailed from Hellas in more than one thousand ships was of an unprecedented size.
  • A large number of items; a large inventory.
  • A host of parts for my Model A.
    Derived terms
    * heavenly host * Lord of Hosts

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) also oist, ost, from (etyl) hoiste, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Catholicism) The consecrated bread or wafer of the Eucharist.
  • See also

    * hostage

    server

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who serves; a waitress or waiter.
  • A tray for dishes; a salver.
  • (computing) A program which provides services to other programs or users, either in the same computer or over a computer network.
  • (senseid)(computing) A computer dedicated to running such programs.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-14, author=(Jonathan Freedland)
  • , volume=189, issue=1, page=18, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Obama's once hip brand is now tainted , passage=Now we are liberal with our innermost secrets, spraying them into the public ether with a generosity our forebears could not have imagined. Where we once sent love letters in a sealed envelope, or stuck photographs of our children in a family album, now such private material is despatched to servers and clouds operated by people we don't know and will never meet.}}

    Usage notes

    * Some prefer (term) to (waiter) or (waitress) because it is unisex.

    Derived terms

    * fileserver * microserver * miniserver * serverless * timeserver

    Antonyms

    * client