net
High (A2)Neutral (used across all registers)
Definition
Meaning
A piece of open-meshed material made of twine, cord, rope, etc., used typically for catching fish, dividing a court in games, or for protection.
A remaining amount after deductions (e.g., net profit); a network of interconnected computers (the Internet); the goal in football/hockey; to catch or acquire as if with a net.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word functions primarily as a noun and adjective. As a verb, it is transitive. The noun form's meaning spans the concrete (fishing net) to the abstract (safety net) and the technological (computer network). The adjective meaning 'remaining after deductions' is common in financial contexts and contrasts with 'gross'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Spelling of past tense/past participle is 'netted' in both. In sports, UK 'net' (football) corresponds to US 'goal' (soccer). The term 'internet' is capitalized less frequently in modern usage in both varieties.
Connotations
Similar core connotations of capture, entanglement, or final result. In business, 'net' as an adjective is equally standard.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties. The technological sense ('net' for Internet) is slightly more established in UK English (e.g., 'net surfer'), but 'Internet' is now dominant globally.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[VERB] net + OBJECT (e.g., net a fish)[VERB] net + PERSON/ORGANIZATION + AMOUNT (e.g., net the company £1 million)[ADJECTIVE] net + NOUN (e.g., net weight)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cast one's net wide”
- “slip through the net”
- “a safety net”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to profit/loss/weight after all deductions (net profit, net assets).
Academic
Used in economics, computing (network), biology (food web), and mathematics (as a concept of final amount).
Everyday
Fishing, sports (scoring a goal), window coverings, hair containment, the Internet.
Technical
In computing, short for network or Internet. In textiles, a type of fabric. In law, the final amount (net estate).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The striker netted a hat-trick in the final.
- The new policy is expected to net the treasury millions.
American English
- The fisherman netted a huge salmon.
- The deal netted the startup a substantial profit.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We use a net to catch butterflies.
- The football went into the net.
- What is your net income?
- The company announced a net profit increase of 5%.
- He fell but was caught by the safety net.
- They cast their net into the deep water.
- The net effect of the new regulations is still unclear.
- After all deductions, she was left with a net gain of £2,000.
- The investigation was a dragnet covering the entire city.
- The scheme is designed to prevent fraudsters from slipping through the net.
- The virus spread rapidly through the neural net of the computer system.
- She expertly netted the complex deal after months of negotiation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a TENNIS NET. The 'T' is the post. Remove the 'TEN' and you're left with NET.
Conceptual Metaphor
NET IS A TRAP (for catching things). NET IS A FILTER (separating wanted from unwanted, like profit from costs). NET IS A CONTAINER (the Internet, a safety net).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'no' (нет).
- The Russian 'сеть' covers 'net', 'network', and '(the) Internet', so context is key in English.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'net' as a verb without an object (INCORRECT: 'He netted.' CORRECT: 'He netted three goals.').
- Confusing 'net' with 'gross' in financial contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'net' NOT typically mean 'the final amount after deductions'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Gross' refers to the total amount before any deductions (like taxes or costs). 'Net' refers to the final amount remaining after all deductions are taken out.
While 'the Net' is a recognised informal shortening of 'the Internet', it is less common in formal writing. 'Internet' is the standard term in most contexts.
The past tense and past participle is always 'netted' (e.g., 'He netted a goal', 'She has netted a big deal').
It means to escape or avoid being caught or detected by a system of controls or checks that is supposed to be comprehensive.
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