The rete is a map of the northern half of the celestial sphere. In addition to stars and constellations, the rete contains a circle representing the path of the sun through the heavens (the ecliptic). On a modern astrolabe, the rete is printed on a transparent disk. On Medieval astrolabes, the rete was cut out of a piece of brass with pointers indicating the position of stars.

A skeletal brass disc which is placed over the plates of an astrolabe and which can be rotated to indicate the position of the stars.

skeletal star map representing the rotation of the heavens on an astrolabe. The rete normally features a projection of the ecliptic and pointers for prominent stars, and can be rotated over a chosen latitude plate. see article on the astrolabe.

A net or network; a plexus; particularly, a network of blood vessels or nerves, or a part resembling a network.

An interwoven network of blood vessels or passageways.

a network of intersecting blood vessels or intersecting nerves or intersecting lymph vessels

(-tia) L. = a net (-work); a snare.

Latin = a net; hence, a network of veins or tubules.

Concrete.