net

[ net ]

/ nɛt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR net ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a bag or other contrivance of strong thread or cord worked into an open, meshed fabric, for catching fish, birds, or other animals: a butterfly net.

a piece of meshed fabric designed to serve a specific purpose, as to divide a court in racket games or protect against insects: a tennis net; a mosquito net.

anything serving to catch or ensnare: a police net to trap the bank robber.

a lacelike fabric with a uniform mesh of cotton, silk, rayon, nylon, etc., often forming the foundation of any of various laces.

(in tennis, badminton, etc.) a ball that hits the net.

Often nets. the goal in hockey or lacrosse.

any network or reticulated system of filaments, lines, veins, or the like.

any network containing computers and telecommunications equipment.

the Net, the Internet.

Mathematics. the abstraction, in topology, of a sequence; a map from a directed set to a given space.

(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Reticulum.

Informal. a radio or television network.

verb (used with object), net·ted, net·ting.

to cover, screen, or enclose with a net or netting: netting the bed to keep out mosquitoes.

to take with a net: to net fish.

to set or use nets in (a river, stream, etc.), as for catching fish.

to catch or ensnare: to net a dangerous criminal.

(in tennis, badminton, etc.) to hit (the ball) into the net.

Nearby words

Origin of net

before 900; Middle English net (noun), netten (v.), Old English net(t) (noun); cognate with Dutch, Old Norse net, Gothic nati, German Netz

SYNONYMS FOR net

15 seize, capture, trap.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR net ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsnet·ta·ble, adjectivenet·like, adjective

Definition for net (2 of 3)

net

[ net ]

/ nɛt /

adjective

remaining after deductions, as for charges or expenses (opposed to gross): net earnings.

sold at a stated price with all parts and charges included and with all deductions having been made.

final; totally conclusive: After all that work, what was the net result?

(of weight) after deduction of tare, tret, or both.

noun

net income, profit, or the like.

verb (used with object), net·ted, net·ting.

to gain or produce as clear profit.

Origin of net

1300–50; Middle English; variant of neat¹

Related formsnet·ta·ble, adjective

Definition for net (3 of 3)

NET

National Educational Television.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for net

“Hence, there might be a net benefit, at least to some females, of breeding within the natal group,” the researchers speculate.
Mongooses, Meerkats, and Ants, Oh My! Why Some Animals Keep Mating All in the Family|Helen Thompson|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The outcome of the rum feud is critical for both Bacardi and Pernod Ricard, because the winner could net billions in future sales.
Why Congress Hates Your Cuban Rum|Tim Mak|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In contrast, areas 10 to 20 miles away from city hall gained roughly 15 million net residents.
The Progressives’ War on Suburbia|Joel Kotkin|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Affordability (20%): Net price of attendance after deducting grants and scholarship aid (NCES).
The Daily Beast College Rankings Methodology|Brandy Zadrozny|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The jacket and gloves were a precaution in the event the eaglet panicked, but there was little fuss as he tossed the net over her.
He Faces Jail for Rescuing Baby Eagles|Michael Daly|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Musquitoes have disappeared, although I yet keep under a net at night by way of making assurance "doubly sure."
Impressions of America|Tyrone Power
"Yes, I got caught in a net, while I was eating some cocoanut," answered Mappo.
Mappo, the Merry Monkey|Richard Barnum
Though torn pretty well to pieces, the net in some way still remained foul, and he had had a thirty-mile tow out of his course.
Tales of the Fish Patrol|Jack London
The net profits of these mines to their owners are said to be six thousand dollars a day; and mountains of ore are still in sight.
Alaska|Ella Higginson
At the next dlitement the first net is found under the litter.
The Insect World|Louis Figuier

British Dictionary definitions for net (1 of 3)

net

/ (nɛt) /

noun

an openwork fabric of string, rope, wire, etc; meshRelated adjective: retiary

a device made of net, used to protect or enclose things or to trap animals

a thin light mesh fabric of cotton, nylon, or other fibre, used for curtains, dresses, etc
(as modifier)net curtains

a plan, strategy, etc, intended to trap or ensnarethe murderer slipped through the police net

sport

a strip of net that divides the playing area into two equal parts
a shot that hits the net, whether or not it goes over

the goal in soccer, hockey, etc

(often plural) cricket

a pitch surrounded by netting, used for practice
a practice session in a net

informal short for internet

another word for network (def. 2)

verb nets, netting or netted

(tr) to catch with or as if with a net; ensnare

(tr) to shelter or surround with a net

(intr) sport to score a goalRangers netted three times in seven minutes

to make a net out of (rope, string, etc)

(intr) to hit a shot into the net

Word Origin for net

Old English net; related to Gothic nati, Dutch net

British Dictionary definitions for net (2 of 3)

net

nett

/ (nɛt) /

adjective

remaining after all deductions, as for taxes, expenses, losses, etcnet profit Compare gross (def. 2)

(of weight) after deducting tare

ultimate; final; conclusive (esp in the phrase net result)

noun

net income, profits, weight, etc

verb nets, netting or netted

(tr) to yield or earn as clear profit

Word Origin for net

C14: clean, neat, from French net neat 1; related to Dutch net, German nett

British Dictionary definitions for net (3 of 3)

net

the internet domain name for

a company or organization

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for net (1 of 4)

net

Old English net "netting, network, spider web, mesh used for capturing," also figuratively, "moral or mental snare or trap," from Proto-Germanic *natjan (cf. Old Saxon net, Old Norse, Dutch net, Swedish nät, Old High German nezzi, German Netz, Gothic nati "net"), originally "something knotted," from PIE *ned- "to twist, knot" (cf. Sanskrit nahyati "binds, ties," Latin nodus "knot," Old Irish nascim "I bind, oblige").

Word Origin and History for net (1 of 4)

net

adj.

"remaining after deductions," 1510s, from earlier sense of "trim, elegant, clean, neat" (c.1300), from Old French net "clean, pure," from Latin nitere "to shine, look bright, glitter" (see neat). Meaning influenced by Italian netto "remaining after deductions." As a noun, 1910.

Word Origin and History for net (2 of 4)

net

v.1

"to capture in a net," early 15c., from net (n.). Related: Netted; netting.

Word Origin and History for net (3 of 4)

net

v.2

"to gain as a net sum," 1758, from net (adj.). Related: Netted; netting.

Culture definitions for net

net

What remains after all deductions have been made. (Compare gross.)

net

noun

verb (used with object), net·ted, net·ting.

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of net

Definition for net (2 of 3)

net

adjective

noun

verb (used with object), net·ted, net·ting.

Origin of net

Definition for net (3 of 3)

NET

Examples from the Web for net

British Dictionary definitions for net (1 of 3)

net

noun

verb nets, netting or netted

Word Origin for net

British Dictionary definitions for net (2 of 3)

net

nett

adjective

noun

verb nets, netting or netted

Word Origin for net

British Dictionary definitions for net (3 of 3)

net

the internet domain name for

Word Origin and History for net (1 of 4)

net

Word Origin and History for net (1 of 4)

net

Word Origin and History for net (2 of 4)

net

Word Origin and History for net (3 of 4)

net

Culture definitions for net

net