neutral

a. [ L. neutralis, fr. neuter. See Neuter. ] 1. Not engaged on either side; not taking part with or assisting either of two or more contending parties; neuter; indifferent. [ 1913 Webster ]

The heart can not possibly remain neutral, but constantly takes part one way or the other. Shaftesbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Neither good nor bad; of medium quality; middling; not decided or pronounced. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some things good, and some things ill, do seem,
And neutral some, in her fantastic eye. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Biol.) Neuter. See Neuter, a., 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 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 (&schwa_;). See Guide to Pronunciation, § 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as neutralization. [ Chiefly Brit. ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a policy of neutrality or nonalignment in international affairs.
Syn. -- neutrality. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A neutral; one who professes or practices neutrality. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. neutralité. ] 1. The state or quality of being neutral; the condition of being unengaged in contests between others; state of taking no part on either side; indifference. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men who possess a state of neutrality in times of public danger, desert the interest of their fellow subjects. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Indifference in quality; a state neither very good nor bad. [ Obs. ] Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Chem.) The quality or state of being neutral. See Neutral, a., 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (International Law) The condition of a nation or government which refrains from taking part, directly or indirectly, in a war between other powers. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Those who are neutral; a combination of neutral powers or states. [ 1913 Webster ]

Armed neutrality, the condition of a neutral power, in time of war, which holds itself ready to resist by force any aggression of either belligerent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. neutralisation. ] 1. The act or process of neutralizing, or the state of being neutralized. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chem.) The act or process by which an acid and a base are combined in such proportions that the resulting compound is neutral. See Neutral, a., 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Neutralized p. pr. & vb. n. Neutralizing ] [ Cf. F. neutraliser. ] 1. To render neutral; to reduce to a state of neutrality. [ 1913 Webster ]

So here I am neutralized again. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chem.) To render inert or imperceptible the peculiar affinities of, as a chemical substance; to destroy the effect of; as, to neutralize an acid with a base. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To destroy the peculiar properties or opposite dispositions of; to reduce to a state of indifference or inefficiency; to counteract; to render ineffective; as, to neutralize parties in government; to neutralize efforts, opposition, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Counter citations that neutralize each other. E. Everett. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, neutralizes; that which destroys, disguises, or renders inert the peculiar properties of a body. [ 1913 Webster ]