/ net; NAmE / noun , adjective , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] a type of material that is made of string, thread or wire twisted or tied together, with small spaces in between :
net curtains
—see also fishnet , netting
2.
[ C ] (especially in compounds) a piece of net used for a particular purpose, such as catching fish or covering sth :
fishing nets
a mosquito net (= used to protect you from mosquitoes )
—see also hairnet , safety net
3.
the net [ sing. ] ( in sports ) the frame covered in net that forms the goal :
to kick the ball into the back of the net
4.
the net [ sing. ] ( in tennis , etc. ) the piece of net between the two players that the ball goes over
5.
the Net ( informal ) = the Internet
•
IDIOMS
see cast verb , slip verb , spread verb
■ adjective ( BrE also nett )
1.
[ usually before noun ] a net amount of money is the amount that remains when nothing more is to be taken away :
a net profit of £500
net income / earnings (= after tax has been paid)
—compare gross
2.
[ only before noun ] the net weight of sth is the weight without its container or the material it is wrapped in :
450 gms net weight
—compare gross
3.
[ only before noun ] final, after all the important facts have been included :
The net result is that small shopkeepers are being forced out of business.
Canada is now a substantial net importer of medicines (= it imports more than it exports) .
a net gain
► net adverb :
a salary of $50 000 net
Interest on the investment will be paid net (= tax will already have been taken away) .
—compare gross
■ verb ( -tt- ) [ vn ]
1.
to earn an amount of money as a profit after you have paid tax on it :
The sale of paintings netted £17 000.
2.
to catch sth, especially fish, in a net
3.
to catch sb or obtain sth in a skilful way :
A swoop by customs officers netted a large quantity of drugs.
4.
( especially BrE ) to kick or hit a ball into the goal
SYN score :
He has netted 21 goals so far this season.
5.
to cover sth with a net or nets
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb senses 2 to 5 and noun Old English net , nett , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch net and German Netz .
verb sense 1 and adjective adverb Middle English (in the senses clean and smart ): from French net neat, from Latin nitidus shining, from nitere to shine. The sense free from deductions is first recorded in late Middle English .