noun
dragnet
DRAG-neht
noun
1
A large net dragged along a riverbed or seabed to catch fish or find objects.
"Fishermen used a dragnet to haul in the catch."
2
A coordinated, wide-scale search by police to catch a suspect.
"Police launched a dragnet across the city after the robbery."
How to Use Dragnet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wide, thorough search — literally a fishing net, or figuratively a police manhunt.
Common pairings
police dragnet
cast a dragnet
Word Forms
dragnetted past tense, dragnets plural, dragnets singular
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Fishermen used a _____ to haul in the catch.
Etymology
From drag + net, echoing the Old English draegnet.