client

 
Pronunciation: /ˈklʌɪənt/

noun

  • 1a person or organization using the services of a lawyer or other professional person or company: insurance tailor-made to a client’s specific requirements
  • a person being dealt with by social or medical services: a client referred for counselling
  • 2 Computing (in a network) a desktop computer or workstation that is capable of obtaining information and applications from a server: workstation clients are going to be easy to install
  • (also client application or program) a program that is capable of obtaining a service provided by another program: friendly client programs like this enable you to perform complicated actions in just a mouse press or two
  • 3(in ancient Rome) a plebeian under the protection of a patrician.
  • archaic a dependant; a hanger-on.

Derivatives

clientship

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin cliens, client-, variant of cluens 'heeding', from cluere 'hear or obey'. The term originally denoted a person under the protection and patronage of another, hence a person ‘protected’ by a legal adviser (client (sense 1))