940
N
network (especially in the phrases radio net, communica-
tion(s) net) 4 the net *informal* the INTERNET 5 [C] a piece of
material in a frame, in which firemen catch someone falling
or jumping -> see also NETS, cast one's net wide (CAST¹)
net² v -tt- [T] 1 to catch (as if) in a net: We *netted three fish in
under an hour*. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] *She's netted herself a rich
husband*. 2 to cover with a net: *Net the fruit trees to protect
them from birds*. 3 *infml* to hit or kick (the ball) into the net
in a game
net³ || also nett BrE — *adj* [A; after n] (of an amount) when
nothing further is to be subtracted: *net profit* (=after tax, rent
etc are paid) | *net weight* (=of an object without its packet) |
*This jar of coffee weighs 250 grams net*. | (*fig.*) *The net result*
(=the result when everything has been considered) *of our
efforts was one small basket of strawberries*. -> compare
GROSS
net⁴ v -tt- [T(for)] to gain as a profit: *The sale netted a fat profit
(for the company)*. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] *It netted us a large profit*.
Net·an·ya·hu, Bin·ya·min /ˌnɛtənjɑːjuː, ˈbɪnjəmɪn/
(1949–) an Israeli politician, who was Prime Minister from
1995 to 1999 and leader of the RIGHT-WING Likud party
net·ball /ˈnɛtbɔːl/ *n* [U] a game that is related to BASKETBALL
but usually played by women, in which teams make points
by making a ball fall through one of the two high rings at
the opposite ends of a court. It is one of the sports played by
girls of school age in Britain, but not usually by boys.
ˈnet cord *n* a shot in tennis that hits the top edge of the net
but lands correctly on the opponent's side of the court
neth·er /ˈnɛðər/ *adj* [A] *lit or humor* in a lower place or position:
*his nether garments* (=trousers) | *nether regions*
Neth·er·lands, the /ˈnɛðələndz||ˈðɜːr-/ a country in north-
west Europe which is a member of the EU (=European
Union). Population: 16,150,511 (2003). The capital is Amster-
dam, but the government is based in The Hague. Most of the
country is flat and large parts of it are below sea level. The size
of the Netherlands has been increased by draining (DRAIN)
land that was formerly under the sea and building a system
of DYKES to keep the sea back. British and American people
often call the country Holland, but this is not officially
correct because Holland is only one part of the Netherlands.
When people think of the Netherlands, they often think of
WINDMILLS, which used to be very common there, of TULIPS,
which are grown in large quantities to be sold, and of CLOGS
(=wooden shoes) which many people used to wear. The
country is also known for its less strict attitude towards
drugs, especially CANNABIS. People from the Netherlands are
called Dutch.
Netherlands An·til·les, the /ˌnɛðələndz ænˈtɪliːz||ˈðɜːr-/
a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea which belong to the
Netherlands, including Bonaire and Curaçao. Population:
175,653 (2000). Capital: Willemstad.
neth·er·most /ˈnɛðəməʊst||ˈðɜːr-/ *adj* [A] *lit* lowest: *the neth-
ermest point on the map*
net·i·quette /ˈnɛtɪkɛt/ *n* [U] the rules for polite behaviour
followed by people when they are sending messages through
the INTERNET
nets /nɛts/ *n* [(the)P] (in cricket) one or more WICKETS sur-
rounded by a net, in which players can practise
Net·scape Nav·i·ga·tor /ˌnɛtskeɪp ˈnævɪɡeɪtər/ *trademark*
one of the main types of BROWSER (=computer SOFTWARE
designed for finding, looking at, and printing material from
the WORLD WIDE WEB), produced by Netscape Communica-
tions Corporation
nett /nɛt/ *adj* BrE for NET³
net·ting /ˈnɛtɪŋ/ *n* [U] string, wire etc made into a net: *a
fence of wire netting*
net·tle¹ /ˈnɛtl/ *n* a wild plant with hairy leaves which may
sting and make red marks on the skin -> see also GRASP the
nettle (GRASP¹)
nettle² v [T] to make (someone) angry or impatient, especially
for only a short time; IRRITATE: *I was rather nettled by his
rude questions*.
ˈnettle rash *n* [C;U] BrE an area of stinging red spots on one's
skin: *I sometimes get (a) nettle rash from eating fish*.
net·work¹ /ˈnɛtwɜːk||ˈwɜːrk/ *n* 1 a large system of lines,
tubes, wires etc that cross one another or are connected with
one another: *Britain's railway network* | *the network of blood
vessels in the body* | (*fig.*) *a network of friends in different
cities* 2 a group of radio or television stations in different
places using many of the same broadcasts 3 a set of com-
puters that are connected to each other and can be used as a
means of sending and sharing information or messages ->
see also LAN, OLD-BOY NETWORK
network² v [I;T] to connect (computers) to form a NETWORK
,Network En'abled Capa,bility *abbrev.* NEC *n* [U] a
system that allows an army to make use of the latest compu-
ter technology to fight wars in a much quicker and more
effective way than traditional methods. The system consists
of three parts connected by computer. SENSORS collect infor-
mation, then a network processes it and communicates with
weapons systems.
net-work-ing /ˈnɛtwɜːkɪŋ||ˈwɜːr-/ *n* [U] the establishing of
professional connections with the aim of sharing informa-
tion, advice, or support -> compare OLD-BOY NETWORK
CULTURAL NOTE This word is used generally to talk about
anyone improving their professional connections. In
Britain, the word can be used about professional people
who work from home, or in areas which do not give them
the advantages enjoyed by people in other businesses or
professions.
,Network 'Rail *trademark* a company which was started by the
British government in 2002 to look after the system of
railway tracks in the UK. It was created after the government
decided that the company which used to do this job,
Railtrack, should stop working. Network Rail has been
organized so that it does not make a profit.
neu·ral com·put·er /ˌnjʊərəl kəmˈpjutər||ˌnər-/ *n* a
computer that is designed to operate in a way similar to the
human brain —neural computing *n* [U]
neu·ral·gia /njuˈrældʒə||nuː-/ *n* [U] *med* sharp pain along the
length of one or more nerves —gic *adj*: *neuralgic pain*
,neural 'network also ,neural 'net *n* a set of computers
that are connected to each other, which share information
and operate in a way that is supposed to be similar to the
human brain: *By 1989, they were using neural networks to
assess credit risks*.
neuro- -> see WORD FORMATION TABLE
neu·rol·o·gy /njuˈrɒlədʒi||nuˈrɑː-/ *n* [U] the scientific study
of the NERVOUS SYSTEM and its diseases —gist *n*
neu·ro·sis /njuˈrɒʊsɪs||nuː-/ *n pl.* -ses /siːz/ [C;U] *med* a
disorder of the mind in which a person suffers from strong
unreasonable fears and ideas about the outside world, trou-
bled relations with other people, and often physical illness
neu·rot·ic /njuˈrɒtɪk||nuˈroʊ-/ *adj* 1 of or suffering from
neurosis: *neurotic fears* 2 *not tech* unreasonably anxious or
sensitive: *She's neurotic about getting fat!* —neurotic *n*
neu·ter¹ /ˈnjuːtər||ˈnuː-/ *adj tech* 1 (in grammar) for or
belonging to the class of words that usually includes most of
the words for things rather than males or females: *a neuter
noun/ending* 2 (of plants or animals) with no or undevel-
oped sexual organs: *Worker bees are neuter*. -> compare
FEMININE, MASCULINE
neuter² v [T usually pass.] *euph* to remove part of the sex organs
of (an animal) by an operation, to prevent (the animal)
producing young -> compare CASTRATE, SPAY, ALTER
neu·tral¹ /ˈnjuːtrəl||ˈnuː-/ *adj* 1 without strong feelings or
opinions on either side of a question or argument: *neutral
reporting of a political issue* 2 being or belonging to a
country which is not fighting or helping either side in a war:
*a neutral country* | *neutral waters* 3 without strong or
noticeable qualities, especially of the stated kind, such as **a)**
very weak or colourless: *a neutral colour* **b)** (in chemistry)
neither acid nor BASE **c)** with no electrical charge —ly *adv*
neutral² *n* 1 [U] (in a car or other machine) the position of
the GEARS in which no power is carried from the engine to
the wheels: *When you start the engine, be sure the car is in
neutral*. 2 [C] a NEUTRAL person or country
neu·tral·i·ty /njuːˈtrælɪti||nuː-/ *n* [U] the condition or qual-
ity of being neutral, especially in a war
neu·tral·ize also -ise BrE /ˈnjuːtrəlaɪz||ˈnuː-/ v [T] 1 to
cause to have no effect; destroy the value, force, or activity
of: *to neutralize an acid with a base* | *Rising prices tend to
neutralize increased wages*. -> compare COUNTERACT 2 to