NEUTRAL • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Neutral

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/nˈutrəl/ Listen

adjective

Neutral adj.

1.

Not engaged on either side; not taking part with or assisting either of two or more contending parties; neuter; indifferent. "The heart can not possibly remain neutral, but constantly takes part one way or the other."

2.

Neither good nor bad; of medium quality; middling; not decided or pronounced. "Some things good, and some things ill, do seem, And neutral some, in her fantastic eye."

3.

(Biol.) Neuter. See Neuter, a., 3.

4.

(Chem.) Having neither acid nor basic properties; unable to turn red litmus blue or blue litmus red; said of certain salts or other compounds. Contrasted with acid, and alkaline.

Neutral axis, Neutral surface (Mech.), that line or plane, in a beam under transverse pressure, at which the fibers are neither stretched nor compressed, or where the longitudinal stress is zero. See Axis.

Neutral equilibrium (Mech.), the kind of equilibrium of a body so placed that when moved slighty it neither tends to return to its former position not depart more widely from it, as a perfect sphere or cylinder on a horizontal plane.

Neutral salt (Chem.), a salt formed by the complete replacement of the hydrogen in an acid or base; in the former case by a positive or basic, in the latter by a negative or acid, element or radical.

Neutral tint, a bluish gray pigment, used in water colors, made by mixing indigo or other blue some warm color. the shades vary greatly.

Neutral vowel, the vowel element having an obscure and indefinite quality, such as is commonly taken by the vowel in many unaccented syllables. It is regarded by some as identical with the u in up, and is called also the natural vowel, as unformed by art and effort; it is also called the indefinite vowel. It is symbolized in some phonetic alphabets by the schwa.

noun

Neutral n. A person or a nation that takes no part in a contest between others; one who is neutral. "The neutral, as far as commerce extends, becomes a party in the war."

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Etymology of 'Neutral'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Neutral" Quotes from Famous Books

... a white substance, analogous to morphia, soluble in hot, but hardly in cold alcohol; 11, a beautiful orange red dye stuff, soluble only in acids; it deflagrates in the fire, and seems to possess neutral properties; 12, nicotianine. According to Buchner, the seeds of tobacco yield a pale yellow extract to alcohol, which contains a compound of ...

— The Commercial Products of the Vegetable Kingdom • P. L. Simmonds

... first to the will of the king and second to the will of the Company of the Hundred Associates, were duly signed. Breton was permitted to accompany his master with the understanding that he was to entail no extra expense. Father Chaumonot was delighted; Brother Jacques was thoughtful; the major was neutral and incurious. As yet no rumor stirred its ugly head; the Chevalier's reasons for going were still a matter of conjecture. None had the courage to approach the somber young man and question him. The recruits and broken gentlemen had troubles of sufficient strength to be unmindful of the interest ...

— The Grey Cloak • Harold MacGrath

... to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. Shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented ...

— The 2007 CIA World Factbook • United States

... be a traitor if I fought for France; I should be an ingrate if I fought against her. I should be a spectator, a neutral." ...

— The Goose Girl • Harold MacGrath

... great camp of De Aar there is little to interest or amuse the traveller. The only town which is at all worthy of the name is Beaufort West, nestling amid its trees, a bright patch of colour amid the neutral tints of the hills and surrounding country. Here reside many patients suffering from phthisis, for the air is dry and warm and the rainfall phenomenally small. But after all what a place to die in! Rather a shorter and sweeter life in dear England ...

— With Methuen's Column on an Ambulance Train • Ernest N. Bennett

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