# net

Pronunciation: say "NET" /nɛt/

## Noun

1. A mesh of string, cord, or rope with spaces between the strands, especially one used for catching fish or other animals.
   - Simple: String or rope joined into a mesh with holes, often used to catch fish or other animals.
   - _The angler scooped the trout into a net before it could slip away._
   - _Researchers used a fine net to catch and tag the migrating moths._
4. A framework backed by mesh that serves as the goal in hockey, soccer, lacrosse, and similar games.
   - Simple: A frame with mesh at the back that players try to get the ball into to score.
   - _The defender cleared the ball just before it crossed into the net._
   - _Her slap shot sailed past the goalie and into the top corner of the net._
5. A system that connects many users or locations, allowing transport or communication between them.
   - Simple: A system that links many people or places so they can travel or share messages.
   - _The agency built a net of weather stations spanning the entire coastline._
   - _Each Sunday evening, local ham radio operators check in to the county's emergency net._
8. The amount that remains once expenses and other deductions have been subtracted.
   - Simple: The amount left over after all costs or other amounts are taken away.
   - _Once the loan repayments were taken out, the net barely covered her rent._
   - _The festival's net rose sharply after the organizers cut catering costs._
9. The Internet, meaning the global network of computers plus the sites and services people use on it; usually preceded by the and sometimes capitalized. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: The Internet, with all the websites and services you can use on it.
   - _Within an hour, the video had spread all over the Net._
   - _Plenty of what you read on the net about miracle diets is nonsense._
13. A length of mesh stretched across the middle of a court to divide it in tennis, badminton, volleyball, and similar games.
   - Simple: A mesh stretched across the middle of a court to split it into two sides.
   - _He hit a delicate drop shot that barely cleared the net._
   - _The umpire checked that the net was set to the correct height before the match._
11. Anything that resembles a mesh device in appearance, showing a pattern of crossing lines or strands.
   - Simple: Something that looks like a mesh of crossing lines or threads.
   - _The veins formed a fine net just beneath the leaf's translucent skin._
   - _Streetlights traced a glowing net across the city when seen from the air._
14. A trap or snare, often a scheme designed to catch or entangle someone.
   - Simple: A trap set to catch someone, often as part of a clever plan.
   - _The conspirators were caught in a net of their own making._
   - _Investigators tightened the net until the fraudster had nowhere left to hide._
12. A practice space surrounded by netting, where cricket players work on their batting and bowling.
   - Simple: A space with nets around it where cricket players practice hitting and bowling the ball.
   - _He bowled in the nets all morning to sharpen his line before the test series._
   - _The cricket captain skipped net practice to rest his sore shoulder._
18. The region of a tennis court immediately next to the mesh barrier that divides the two halves.
   - Simple: In tennis, the part of the court close to the center mesh that divides the two sides.
   - _He charges the net behind every serve, hoping for a quick volley._
   - _Approaching the net leaves the backcourt open to a lob._
19. In geometry, an arrangement of polygons joined edge to edge that folds along those edges to form a given polyhedron.
   - Simple: In geometry, a flat shape made of joined polygons that folds up into a solid.
   - _Students drew the net of a cube as six connected squares._
   - _A single polyhedron can have several different nets._

## Adjective

2. Remaining after expenses, taxes, or other deductions have been subtracted.
   - Simple: Left over after costs or other amounts are taken away.
   - _The investors cared most about the net return on their money._
   - _After shipping and fees, her net earnings were far smaller than the headline figure._
3. Final or remaining, representing the result after all factors are accounted for.
   - Simple: Final, after everything has been added up or taken away.
   - _The net outcome of the negotiations pleased both sides._
   - _Despite the setbacks, the net gain over the year was positive._

## Verb

6. To earn or bring in an amount as profit after expenses; more generally, to gain or win something.
   - Simple: To earn money after costs are taken away, or to win or get something.
   - _The concert netted the charity nearly fifty thousand dollars._
   - _Selling the old equipment should net them a decent return._
7. To score a goal, especially by putting the ball into the net.
   - Simple: To score a goal by getting the ball into the net.
   - _The forward netted a stunning equalizer from the edge of the box._
   - _Strikers who reliably net goals command the highest transfer fees._
10. To catch something, such as a fish or bird, in a net, or to catch someone by a trap or clever plan.
   - Simple: To catch something in a net, or to catch someone with a trap or plan.
   - _They netted dozens of shrimp in the warm coastal shallows._
   - _Skilled fishermen net the salmon as they crowd into the river mouth._
16. To enclose or cover something by placing a net over or around it.
   - Simple: To cover or close off something with a net.
   - _Farmers net their cherry trees each spring to protect the fruit from birds._
   - _The gardener netted the strawberry beds against rabbits._
17. In a racket sport, to strike the ball into the dividing net instead of clearing it.
   - Simple: In tennis and similar games, to hit the ball into the net by mistake instead of over it.
   - _She netted a routine backhand at match point._
   - _Beginners often net the ball when they hit too flat._
20. In finance, to offset opposing positions or obligations against each other so that only the net amount or exposure remains.
   - Simple: In finance, to set amounts owed each way against each other so only the difference is left.
   - _Clearing houses net offsetting trades among their members, so each firm settles only its remaining balance._
   - _By netting its trades with each counterparty, the fund reduced its daily settlement payments to a small fraction of their gross value._
21. To work threads into a netting or network, as by knitting or knotting.
   - Simple: To make a net or mesh by knotting or tying threads together.
   - _On winter evenings the old fisherman sat by the stove, netting new bait bags for his lobster traps, knot by knot._
   - _The women of the village still net sturdy market bags from cotton cord, tying every knot by hand._

## Adverb

15. Counting the amount left after expenses or deductions have been subtracted.
   - Simple: Counted after costs and other amounts are taken away.
   - _The contract pays him sixty thousand dollars net for the season._
   - _After rent and wages, the little shop brings in about eight hundred dollars a week net._

## Adjective

22. Good or desirable; clean, decent, and clear. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Good, pleasing, and clean.

## Other meanings

- (adjective) Free from any added or foreign substances; pure and unadulterated.
- (noun) In circuit design, a conductor that connects two or more component terminals.
- (verb) In certain dialects, to clean, wash, or rinse something.

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 4–5, 7, 10–14, 16–19, 21** — From Middle English "net," from Old English "net, nett," going back through Proto-Germanic, possibly to the Proto-Indo-European root *neHd- ("to turn, twist, knot"). It is related to Dutch "net," German "Netz," and Swedish "nät."
**Meanings 2–3, 6, 8, 15, 20, 22** — Latin "nitidus" passed into Old French as "net" and then into Middle English as "net" or "nette". "Neat" and "nitid" come from the same source, so they are doublets.
**Meaning 9** — Shortened from "Internet," itself a shortening of "internetwork" (from "inter-" and "network").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/net (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).