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Entry 14 senses · 5 variants Webster, 1913

Net

/(nĕt)/ · IPA /nɛt/
01 n. A fabric of twine, thread, or the like, wrought or woven into meshes, and used for catching fish, birds, butterflies, etc.
  1. 1.
    A fabric of twine, thread, or the like, wrought or woven into meshes, and used for catching fish, birds, butterflies, etc.
  2. 2.
    Anything designed or fitted to entrap or catch; a snare; any device for catching and holding.
    “A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet.” — Prov. xxix. 5.
    “In the church's net there are fishes good or bad.” — Jer. Taylor.
  3. 3.
    Anything wrought or woven in meshes; as, a net for the hair; a mosquito net; a tennis net.
  4. 4.
    A figure made up of a large number of straight lines or curves, which are connected at certain points and related to each other by some specified law.(Geom.)
  5. 5.
    A network.[informal]
  6. 6.
    The internet; -- usually the net; as, I found it on the net.[slang] Also: the net
02 v. t. To make into a net; to make in the style of network; as, to net silk.
imp. & p. p. Netted; p. pr. & vb. n. Netting
  1. 1.
    To make into a net; to make in the style of network; as, to net silk.
  2. 2.
    To take in a net; to capture by stratagem or wile.
    “And now I am here, netted and in the toils.” — Sir W. Scott.
  3. 3.
    To inclose or cover with a net; as, to net a tree.
03 v. i. To form network or netting; to knit.
  1. 1.
    To form network or netting; to knit.
04 a. Without spot; pure; shining.
  1. 1.
    Without spot; pure; shining.[Obs.]
    “Her breast all naked as net ivory.” — Spenser.
  2. 2.
    Free from extraneous substances; pure; unadulterated; neat; as, net wine, etc.[R.]
  3. 3.
    Not including superfluous, incidental, or foreign matter, as boxes, coverings, wraps, etc.; free from charges, deductions, etc; as, net profit; net income; net weight, etc.
Phrases & compounds
Net tonnage — the tonnage of a vessel after a deduction from the gross tonnage has been made, to allow space for crew, machinery, etc.
05 v. t. To produce or gain as clear profit; as, he netted a thousand dollars by the operation.
imp. & p. p. Netted; p. pr. & vb. n. Netting
  1. 1.
    To produce or gain as clear profit; as, he netted a thousand dollars by the operation.