what is the different between bitcoin network and the bitcoin protocol protocol and network seem like two separate things. When peeps refer to bitcoin then it could mean protocol, software (what do they mean by that) or the network (what exactly do they mean by that ?) or currency ?
Bitcoin Network is a network of computers connected to each other in peer-to-peer fashion whereas a Bitcoin Protocol is/are the rules that govern this network.

Now, this computer that is a part of the Bitcoin network run a software which makes this Bitcoin Network and its functionalities possible, this software follows some rule/protocol which is nothing but Bitcoin Protocol.