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2 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 :   [ gcide ]

  Neutral \Neu"tral\, 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 [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 ([schwa]). See Guide to
        Pronunciation, [sect] 17.
        [1913 Webster]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) :   [ web1913 ]

  Neutral \Neu"tral\, 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.
  
              The heart can not possibly remain neutral, but
              constantly takes part one way or the other.
                                                    --Shaftesbury.
  
     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.
  
     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. See Guide
        to Pronunciation, [sect] 17.

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