isr.co.ro : glossary IRC (Internet Relay Chat) An Internet service that's like a cross between a series of real-time bulletin boards and a telephone party line. You choose a channel--most often by the topic it purports to be concerned with--and then exchange messages that can be read by anyone else "tuned in" to that channel. While some channels carry serious conversation, most are either meant for fun or periodically disrupted by interlopers out for a good time. Parental supervision is appropriate for children using IRC. If you want to participate, you'll need an IRC client (the IRC access program on your computer or on your provider's host computer if you're using a "shell" account).