net

net¹

noun

1》 a piece of open-meshed material used typically for catching fish.

    ↘a net supported by a frame at the end of a handle, used for catching fish or insects.

2》 a structure with a net used in various games, e.g. as a goal in football, to divide a tennis court, or to enclose a cricket practice area.

3》 a fine fabric with a very open weave.

4》 a means of selecting or securing someone or something: he spread his net far and wide in his search for success.

5》 a communications or broadcasting network.

    ↘a network of interconnected computers.

    ↘(the Net) the Internet.

verb (nets, netting, netted)

1》 catch or obtain with or as with a net.

2》 (in sport) hit (a ball) into the net; score (a goal).

3》 cover with a net.

Derivatives

netful noun (plural netfuls).

-netter noun

Origin

OE net, nett, of Gmc origin.

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net²

(Brit. also nett)

adjective

1》 (of an amount, value, or price) remaining after the deduction of tax or other contributions. Often contrasted with gross.

    ↘(of a weight) excluding that of the packaging.

2》 final; overall: the net result is the same.

verb (nets, netting, netted) acquire (a sum) as clear profit.

↘(net something down/off/out) exclude a non-net amount when making a calculation, to reduce the amount left to a net sum.

Origin

ME (in the senses 'clean' and 'smart', also 'free from deductions'): from Fr. net; see neat¹.