net1

noun

• 1a length of open-meshed material made of twine, cord, rope, or something similar, used typically for catching fish or other animals.
• a piece of open-meshed material supported by a frame at the end of a handle, used typically for catching fish or other aquatic animals or insects.
• a length of open-meshed material supported on a frame and forming part of the goal in various games such as soccer and hockey:he turned Wilson’s cross into the net
• a length of open-meshed material supported on a cord between two posts to divide the playing area in various games such as tennis, badminton, and volleyball.
• a safety net:he felt like a tightrope-walker without a net

• 2a fine fabric with a very open weave: [as modifier]:net curtains

• 3a system or procedure for catching or entrapping someone; a trap:the search was delayed, allowing the murderers to escape the net
• a system or procedure for selecting or recruiting someone:he spread his net far and wide in his search for success

• 4a network, in particular.
• a communications or broadcasting network: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, netted, netting)

• 1catch or land (a fish or other animal) with a net.
• fish with nets in (a river):he has netted the creeks and found them clogged with fish
• acquire or obtain as if with a net:customs officials have netted large caches of drugs

• 2(in sports) hit or kick (a ball or puck) into the net; score (a goal):in six years Wright has netted 177 goals [no object]:Aldridge netted twice

• 3cover with a net:we fenced off a rabbit-proof area for vegetables and netted the top