I understand there are different "programming languages" one can choose (C, C++, C#, VB, Etc.). I think I understand that one can use Visual Studio as the "environment" in which one writes and debugs and compiles(?) their code.

I have seen mention of Visual Studio 2005, .NET 1.x, .NET 2.x, etc. What I don't understand is how .NET fits into the context of a "programming language" like C# and a programming "environment" like Visual Studio? What makes something .NET? Is it a variation of the "language" as in "VB.NET" or a variation or version of Visual Studio or something totally different?