Net

Pronunciation

• enPR: nÄ•t, IPA: /nÉ›t/
• Rhymes: -É›t

From Old English net, from Proto-Germanic *natjÄ….

Full definition of net

Noun

1. A mesh of string, cord or rope.
   a net for the hair; a mosquito net; a tennis net
2. A device made from such mesh, used for catching fish, butterflies, etc.
• 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 1, Then there came a reg'lar terror of a sou'wester same as you don't get one summer in a thousand, and blowed the shanty flat and ripped about half of the weir poles out of the sand. We spent consider'ble money getting 'em reset, and then a swordfish got into the pound and tore the nets all to slathers, right in the middle of the squiteague season.
3. A device made from such mesh, generally used for trapping something.
4. Anything that has the appearance of such a device.
   Petri net
5. (by extension) A trap.
• Bible, Proverbs xxix. 5A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet.
6. caught in the prosecuting attorney's net
7. (geometry) Of a polyhedron, any set of polygons joined edge to edge that, when folded along the edges between adjoining polygons so that the outer edges touch, form the polyhedron.
8. A system that interconnects a number of users, locations etc. allowing transport or communication between them, e.g. computer ~, road ~, electricity distribution ~.
9. (sports) A framework backed by a mesh, serving as the goal in hockey, soccer, lacrosse, etc.
• 2010, December 29, Mark Vesty, Wigan 2-2 Arsenal, Wigan had N'Zogbia sent off late on but Squillaci headed into his own net to give the home side a deserved point.
10. The striker headed the ball into the net to make it 1-0.
11. (sports, tennis) A mesh stretched to divide the court in tennis, badminton, volleyball, etc.

Synonyms

• (mesh) mesh, network
• (used for catching or trapping)
• (figurative: a trap) snare, trap
• (anything that has the appearance of a net) reticulation
• (in geometry) development
• (in computing) network

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To catch by means of a net.
2. (transitive, figuratively) To catch in a trap, or by stratagem.
• Sir Walter ScottAnd now I am here, netted and in the toils.
3. To enclose or cover with a net.to net a tree
4. (transitive, football) To score (a goal).Evans netted the winner in the 80th minute.
• 2012, Chelsea 6-0 Wolves http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19632463Romeu then scored a penalty, Torres netted a header and Moses added the sixth from substitute Oscar's cross.
5. (tennis) To hit the ball into the net.
• 2011, June 28, David Ornstein, Wimbledon 2011: Victoria Azarenka beats Tamira Paszek in quarters, Azarenka whipped a sensational forehand around the net post to break for 2-0 in the second set, followed it up with a love hold and moved to 5-1 when Paszek netted a forehand.
6. To form network or netting; to knit.

Synonyms

• (catch by means of a net) catch
• (to trap) catch, ensnare, entrap, snare, trap

From Middle English net, nette, from Old French net, from Latin nitidus. Compare nitid, neat.

Alternative forms

• nett

Adjective

1. (obsolete) Good, desirable; clean, decent, clear.
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.xii:Her brest all naked, as net iuory,
  Without adorne of gold or siluer bright ...
2. Free from extraneous substances; pure; unadulterated; neat.net wine
3. Remaining after expenses or deductions.net profit; net weight
4. Final; end.net result; net conclusion

Derived terms

Noun

1. The amount remaining after expenses are deducted; profit.

Verb

1. (transitive) To receive as profit.The company nets $30 on every sale.
2. (transitive) To yield as profit for.The scam netted the criminals $30,000.
3. To fully hedge a position.Every party is netting their position with a counter-party

Anagrams

• ent, ENT, ten