The word net is a short, common term used in many areas of life. It can be a noun, an adjective, or a verb, and its meaning depends on the context. Below are the principal uses grouped by topic.
Physical mesh structures
As a noun, a net is often a fabric of interlaced fibers or cords that forms a grid-like sheet. These structures are used to capture, hold, separate or protect. Common types include safety nets, cargo nets, mosquito nets and various kinds of trap or capture devices. A specific and widespread example is a Fishing net, designed to catch fish and other aquatic animals.
Computing and communications
In technology, net is frequently shorthand for a network or for the Internet. People say “the net” to mean the global system of connected computer networks. The term also appears in technical names and conventions, for example as the .net top-level domain originally intended for organizations involved in networking.
Business and finance
Used as an adjective, net indicates a final amount remaining after specified deductions. Examples include net income (revenue after expenses and taxes), net weight (mass excluding packaging), and net pay (wages after taxes and other withholdings). This contrasts with gross, which denotes totals before deductions.
Sports and games
In many sports a net is a physical barrier or target used in play, scoring or to separate opponents. Examples are the net stretched across a tennis court, the goal net in soccer and hockey, and the volleyball net that separates teams. In some contexts, the word describes contact with that barrier; for instance, hitting the ball into the net may end a rally.
Verb forms and idioms
As a verb, to net can mean to catch (as with a net), to achieve or obtain an amount (for example “to net a profit”), or more generally to secure an outcome. The verb is often used in financial and sporting contexts.
Because the term appears in many fields, its precise meaning is set by accompanying words and the surrounding subject matter.