Definition of net
1 a : an open-meshed fabric twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals b : something made of net: as (1) : a device for catching fish, birds, or insects (2) : a fabric barricade which divides a court in half (as in tennis or volleyball) and over which a ball or shuttlecock must be hit to be in play (3) : the fabric that encloses the sides and back of the goal in various games (as soccer or hockey)
2 : an entrapping device or situation <caught in the net of suspicious circumstances>
3 : something resembling a net in reticulation (as of lines, fibers, or figures)
4 a : a group of communications stations operating under unified control b : network 4
5 often capitalized : internet
Origin of net
Middle English nett, from Old English; akin to Old High German nezzi net
First Known Use: before 12th century
net
Definition of net
nettednetting
transitive verb
1 : to cover or enclose with or as if with a net
2 : to catch in or as if in a net
3 : to cover with or as if with a network
4 a : to hit (a ball) into the net for the loss of a point in a racket game b : to hit (a ball or puck) into the goal for a score (as in hockey or soccer); also : to score (a point or goal) by netting a ball or puck
1593
First Known Use of net
1593
net
Simple Definition of net
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—used to describe the weight of something without its packaging or container
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: after everything is completed
Full Definition of net
Examples of net in a sentence
The net result of the new bridge will be fewer traffic jams.
Origin of net
Middle English, clean, pure, from Anglo-French — more at neat
First Known Use: 15th century
1758
First Known Use of net
1758
Circa 1904
First Known Use of net
circa 1904
NET Defined for Kids
Definition of net for Students
1 : a device made of strands that weave in and out with open spaces between and used to hold or catch something
2 : a fabric made of strands of thread, cord, rope, or wire that weave in and out with much open space <a net for catching fish>
3 : the object placed between players in some games (as tennis)
4 : the area that serves as the goal in some games (as soccer and hockey)
5 often cap : internet
6 : network 1 <a net of passageways>
7 : something that traps and is difficult to escape from <They were caught in a net of lies.>
Definition of net for Students
nettednetting
1 : to cover with or as if with a net
2 : to catch in or as if in a net
Definition of net for Students
: remaining after all charges or expenses have been subtracted <We made a net profit of eight dollars.>
Medical Dictionary
Law Dictionary
net
Legal Definition of net
: remaining after deduction of all charges, outlay, or loss <the net proceeds> — compare gross
Origin of net
Anglo-French, clean, pure, from Latin nitidus bright, neat, from nitēre to shine
Learn More about net
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "net" Medical Dictionary: Definition of "net" Spanish Central: Translation of "net" Nglish: Translation of "net" for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of "net" for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "net"
Seen and Heard
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