01 a. Not engaged on either side; not taking part with or assisting either of two or more contending parties; neuter; indifferent.
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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.” — Shaftesbury.
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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.” — Sir J. Davies.
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4.
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.(Chem.)
Phrases & compounds
Neutral axis —
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 —
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 —
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 ŭ 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 (ə). See Guide to Pronunciation, § 17.