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.
Telecommunications. any network containing computers and telecommunications equipment.
Sometimes Net .Digital Technology. internet (preceded by the, except when used before a noun): An overwhelming majority of Americans now have access to the net at home or at work.
Mathematics. the abstraction, in topology, of a sequence; a map from a directed set to a given space.
Net,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.
Origin of net
1
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English noun net(t); cognate with Dutch, Old Norse net, Gothic nati, German Netz; akin to Latin nōdus “knot”; verb derivative of the noun
SYNONYMS FOR net
15 seize, capture, trap.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR net ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM net
net·ta·ble,adjectivenetlike,adjective
Words nearby net
nest of drawers, Nestor, Nestorian, Nestorianism, Nestorius, net, Netaji, Netanyahu, net assets, net asset value, netback
Definition for net (2 of 3)
net2
[ 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.
With the IPO, Slootman, who joined in April, 2019, saw his net worth grow by several billion dollars on paper.
Snowflake CEO: Doubling of stock price after IPO reflects ‘frothy’ market|Aaron Pressman|September 16, 2020|Fortune
Roughly half the reductions required to swiftly reach global net-zero emissions must come from technologies that aren’t yet commercially available.
To confront the climate crisis, the US should launch a National Energy Innovation Mission|Amy Nordrum|September 15, 2020|MIT Technology Review
In 2016, Facebook’s zero-rated “Free Basics” service was shuttered by India’s telecoms regulator, for breaking net neutrality.
The EU’s top court just closed a major loophole in Europe’s net-neutrality rules|David Meyer|September 15, 2020|Fortune
The search will cast a wide net and winnow the applicants down in a one-day, virtual pitch challenge hosted by John.
Lowe’s teams up with Daymond John to diversify its suppliers with a virtual pitch competition|McKenna Moore|September 15, 2020|Fortune
After the DNC started, but before the RNC, his net favorability rating ticked down to -15 points.
Trump And Biden Both Got Small Convention Bounces. But Only Biden Got More Popular.|Nathaniel Rakich (nathaniel.rakich@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 11, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
“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)
net1
/ (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)
verbnets, nettingornetted
(tr)to catch with or as if with a net; ensnare
(tr)to shelter or surround with a net
(intr)sportto 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)
net2
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
verbnets, nettingornetted
(tr)to yield or earn as clear profit
Word Origin for net
C14: clean, neat, from French netneat1; related to Dutch net, German nett
“Net” vs. “Gross”: What Does This Difference Cost You?You work hard for your money, which makes it harder to see it drop due to fees or expenses. Does that make it your net income or gross income?