# net

> English word · Noun · IPA /nɛt/ · frequency rank #1,799

## Definitions
1. A mesh of string, cord or rope.
2. A device made from such mesh, used for catching fish, butterflies, etc.
3. A device made from such mesh, generally used for trapping something.
4. Anything that has the appearance of such a device.
5. A trap.
6. Any set of polygons joined edge to edge that, when folded along the edges between adjoining polygons so that the outer edges touch, form a given polyhedron.
7. A system that interconnects a number of users, locations etc. allowing transport or communication between them.
8. A system that interconnects a number of users, locations etc. allowing transport or communication between them.
9. A framework backed by a mesh, serving as the goal in hockey, soccer, lacrosse, etc.
10. A mesh stretched to divide the court in tennis, badminton, volleyball, etc.
11. The area of the court close to the net (mesh stretched to divide the court).

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *neHd-
Proto-Indo-European *-yós
Proto-Germanic *natją
Proto-West Germanic *nati
Old English nett
Middle English net
English net
From Middle English net, from Old English net, nett, from Proto-West Germanic *nati, from Proto-Germanic *natją (“net”), from Proto-Indo-European *neHd- (“to knot, turn, twist”).
Cognates
Cognate with North Frisian näät (“net”), Saterland Frisian Nät (“net”), West Frisian and Dutch net (“net”), German and Luxembourgish Netz (“net”), Yiddish נעץ (nets, “net”), Danish, Elfdalian, Faroese, and Icelandic net (“net”), Norwegian Bokmål nett (“net”), Norwegian Nynorsk net, nett (“net”), Swedish nät (“net”), Gothic 𐌽𐌰𐍄𐌹 (nati, “net”).

## Easily confused with
- **NJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-nj)
- **ni** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-ni)
- **Ng** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-ng)
- **nm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-nm)
- **NZ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-nz)
- **NT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-nt)
- **NP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-np)
- **nu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-nu)
- **NL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-nl)
- **nr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-nr)
- **NN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-nn)
- **not** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-not)
- **new** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-new)
- **now** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-now)
- **non** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-non)
- **nor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-nor)
- **NFL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-nfl)
- **nov** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-nov)
- **NYC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-nyc)
- **nut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/net-vs-nut)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/net