Definition for net - Oxford Dictionaries Online (World English)

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	net1 (net) Pronunciation: /nɛt/ noun 1a piece of open-meshed material made of twine, cord, or something similar, used typically for catching fish or other animals: fishermen mending their nets a piece of net supported by a frame at the end of a handle, used for catching fish or insects. the total amount of fish caught in one session or expedition: good nets of roach, chub, and perch 2a structure consisting of a net supported on a frame, forming the goal in games such as football: Wales did find the net* in the 32nd minute* a net supported on a cord between two posts to divide the playing area in tennis, badminton, volleyball, etc.. Cricket a strip of ground enclosed by a net, for batting and bowling practice: [as modifier]: a full net practice a safety net: he felt like a tightrope-walker without a net 3 [mass noun] a fine fabric with a very open weave: [as modifier]: net curtains (nets) British informal net curtains. 4a means of catching someone; a trap: the search was delayed, allowing the murderers to escape the net a means of selecting or securing someone or something: he spread his net far and wide in his long search for success 5a communications or broadcasting network, especially of maritime radio: the radio net was brought to life with a mayday a network of interconnected computers: a computer news net (the Net) the Internet. verb (nets, netting, netted) [with object] 1catch (a fish or other animal) with a net: damage caused when netting the fish rabbits can be netted all the year round fish with nets in (a river): they were netting the River Naver acquire or obtain in a skilful way: customs officials have netted large caches of drugs 2(in sport) hit (a ball) into the net; score (a goal): Butler netted 14 goals 3cover with a net: we fenced off a rabbit-proof area for vegetables and netted the top Phrases slip (or fall) through the net escape from or be missed by something intended to catch or deal with one: the girl slipped through the net of all the care agencies Derivatives netful noun (plural netfuls) netter noun Origin: Old English net, nett, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch net and German Netz		Search results in the dictionary net ( also nett)² net in ton (abbreviation: t, also tn)¹ dip net non-net set-net tow net More results » Nearby Words Nessus nest nest box nest egg nester nestle nestling Nestor Nestorianism net ¹ net ² net asset value net book value net current assets net metering net national product net neutrality net profit neta