- net
- I UK [net] / US
noun
Word forms "net":
singular net plural nets
***
1) [countable/uncountable] material made of string or rope woven into a loose pattern with spaces in it, or a piece of thisa mosquito/fishing net
a) [countable] in tennis, the thing that players hit the ball overb) [countable] in football, the large box made of net that is the goalc) [countable] in basketball, the loose net hanging from the circular basket that you put the ball throughd) [countable] a bag made of net fixed to a long stick, used for catching butterflies, fish, or other things2) [countable] a system in which a set of computers are able to communicate with each other3) the Net the Internet
II UK [net] / US adjective **
1) a net amount of money is the total amount after taxes or costs have been removednet gain/loss etc:net profits of £143,000
Net earnings per share amounted to £0.78.
See:2) [only before noun] a net effect or result is the final one, after everything has been consideredThe net effect of this policy has been higher employment but lower wages.
3) the net weight of something is its weight without its containera box of sweets weighing 500 grams net
•
III UK [net] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "net":
present tense I/you/we/they net he/she/it nets present participle netting past tense netted past participle netted1) to catch a fish or other animal in a net2) to manage to get or do something, usually by using clever methodsHe hopes to net some new clients on the golf course this weekend.
The police investigation netted important new information about money laundering.
3) to earn a particular amount of money after taxes or other costs have been removedThe company netted over £5 million last year.
See:4) to cover something with a net in order to protect itWe netted the berry bushes to protect them from the birds.
5) in sport, to hit or throw a ball into a net
IV UK [net] / US adverbafter everything such as taxes or costs have been removedWe earned around £80,000 net last year.
See:
English dictionary. 2014.
