I. net 1 W3 /net/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: nett ]
1 . INTERNET the Net ( also the net ) the system that allows millions of computer users around the world to exchange information SYN the web :
Bruce spends most evenings surfing the Net (=looking at information in different places on the Internet) .
on the Net
You might find something on the Net.
2 .
FOR FISHING/CATCHING THINGS [countable] something used for catching fish, insects, or animals which is made of threads or wires woven across each other with regular spaces between them:
a fishing net
a butterfly net
3 . FOR SPORTS [countable]
a) the thing that players must hit the ball over in games such as tennis
b) the thing behind the posts that players try to kick or hit the ball into in games such as football or ↑ hockey ⇨ goal :
Henry kicked the ball into the back of the net.
4 . FOR KEEPING THINGS OUT [countable] something used for keeping things out, for example insects or birds, which is made of threads woven across each other with regular spaces between them:
a mosquito net
5 . MATERIAL [uncountable] very thin material made from fine threads woven together, with small spaces between:
net curtains
6 . slip through the net if criminals slip through the net, they avoid attempts by the police etc to catch them
7 . fall/slip through the net if someone or something falls or slips through the net, a system which was designed to help or check them has not succeeded in doing this:
In a class of 30 children it is easy for some to slip through the net and learn nothing.
8 . cast/spread your net wide to consider or try as many things as possible in order to find what you want:
Record companies are casting their nets wide in search of new talent.
⇨ ↑ fishnet stockings , ↑ hairnet , ↑ safety net , ↑ netting
II. net 2 BrE AmE ( also nett British English ) adjective [only before noun]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: French ; Origin: 'bright, clean' ; ⇨ ↑ neat ]
1 . the net amount is the final amount that remains after all the other amounts have been taken away ⇨ gross :
The net profit (=after taxes, costs etc) was up 16.3% last month.
The company reported a net loss of $56 million last year.
Vernon estimates the company’s net worth at over $8 billion.
The United States is a net importer of beef (=it imports more than it exports) .
2 . net result/effect the final result or effect of something:
The net result will be higher costs to the consumer.
3 . net weight the weight of something without its container
—net adverb :
He earns $40,000 net.
jars of coffee weighing 450 grams net
III. net 3 W3 BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle netted , present participle netting )
[ Sense 1: Date: 1700-1800 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ net 2 ]
[ Sense 2-4: Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ net 1 ]
1 . [transitive] informal to earn a particular amount of money as a profit after tax has been paid:
I was netting around $64,000 a year.
2 . [transitive] to succeed in getting something, especially by using your skill:
The company has recently netted several large contracts.
An undercover sweep netted 22 suspects in one evening.
3 . [intransitive and transitive] informal to hit or kick the ball into the net in sport ⇨ score :
Rooney has netted nine goals for United so far this season.
4 . [transitive] to catch a fish in a net:
We netted three fish in under an hour.