neutral

[ noo-truhl, nyoo- ]

/ ˈnu trəl, ˈnyu- /

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adjective

not taking part or giving assistance in a dispute or war between others: a neutral nation during World War II.

not aligned with or supporting any side or position in a controversy: The arbitrator was absolutely neutral.

of or belonging to a neutral state or party: neutral territory.

of no particular kind, characteristics, etc.; indefinite: a neutral personality that made no impression whatever; a sex-neutral job title.

(of a color or shade)

gray; without hue; of zero chroma; achromatic.
matching well with many or most other colors or shades, as white or beige.

Botany, Zoology. neuter.

not causing or reflecting a change in something: It is believed that the new tax law will be revenue neutral.

Chemistry. exhibiting neither acid nor alkaline qualities: neutral salts.

Physics.

(of a particle) having no charge.
(of an atom, molecule, collection of particles, fluid, or solid) having no net charge; electroneutral; not electrified.
not magnetized.

Phonetics. (of a vowel) pronounced with the tongue relaxed in a central position, as the a in alive; reduced.

noun

a person or a nation that remains neutral, as in a controversy or war.

a citizen of a neutral nation during a war.

Machinery, Automotive. the position or state of disengaged gears or other interconnecting parts: in neutral.

a neutral color.

QUIZZES

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"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

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decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

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Origin of neutral

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin neutrālis grammatically neuter. See neuter, -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR neutral

2 impartial, disinterested, dispassionate, uninvolved, unbiased.

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OTHER WORDS FROM neutral

neu·tral·ly, adverban·ti·neu·tral, adjective, nounan·ti·neu·tral·ly, adverbnon·neu·tral, adjective, noun

non·neu·tral·ly, adverbqua·si-neu·tral, adjectivequa·si-neu·tral·ly, adverbsem·i·neu·tral, adjectiveun·neu·tral, adjectiveun·neu·tral·ly, adverb

Words nearby neutral

neustrian, neut., neuter, neutercane, neutra, neutral, neutral axis, neutral corner, neutral density, neutral ground, neutral monism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for neutrally

Naturally then—and I use the word as neutrally as I can—there are going to be two sets of reactions in play here.
A Tale of Male Surrender|Simon Carr|June 20, 2009|DAILY BEAST
John looked sapient, and said, neutrally, that some poetry wasn't bad.
Mount Music|E. Oe. Somerville and Martin Ross
But honesty only asked her neutrally, "Is it really growth and freedom, and generous expansion of the soul?"
The Brimming Cup|Dorothy Canfield Fisher
"It ought to be refreshing," struck in Courtlandt, neutrally.
The Adventures of a Widow|Edgar Fawcett

If her Words died away, as Snow melts, neutrally, 'tis no great Recommendation of them.
Lectures on Poetry|Joseph Trapp
"Miss Teller has gone to Multomah, I believe," she remarked, neutrally.
Anne|Constance Fenimore Woolson

British Dictionary definitions for neutrally

neutral

/ (ˈnjuːtrəl) /

adjective

not siding with any party to a war or dispute

of, belonging to, or appropriate to a neutral party, country, etcneutral land

of no distinctive quality, characteristics, or type; indifferent

(of a colour such as white or black) having no hue; achromatic

(of a colour) dull, but harmonizing with most other colours

a less common term for neuter (def. 2)

chem neither acidic nor alkaline

physics having zero charge or potential

rare having no magnetism

phonetics (of a vowel) articulated with the tongue relaxed in mid-central position and the lips midway between spread and roundedthe word ``about'' begins with a neutral vowel

noun

a neutral person, nation, etc

a citizen of a neutral state

the position of the controls of a gearbox that leaves the transmission disengaged

Derived forms of neutral

neutrally, adverb

Word Origin for neutral

C16: from Latin neutrālis; see neuter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for neutrally

neutral

[ nōō′trəl ]

adj.

Belonging to neither kind; not one thing or the other; indifferent.

Of or relating to a solution or compound that is neither acidic nor alkaline.

Of or relating to a compound that does not ionize in solution.

Of or relating to a particle, object, or system that has a net electric charge of zero.

Scientific definitions for neutrally

neutral

[ nōō′trəl ]

Neither acid nor alkaline.

Having no inherent or net charge, especially electric charge.

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adjective

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MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

neutral

adjective

noun

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

Origin of neutral

SYNONYMS FOR neutral

OTHER WORDS FROM neutral

Words nearby neutral

Words related to neutrally

Example sentences from the Web for neutrally

British Dictionary definitions for neutrally

adjective

noun

Derived forms of neutral

Word Origin for neutral

Medical definitions for neutrally

adj.

Scientific definitions for neutrally