Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Neutral
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
And
neutral
some, in her fantastic eye. Sir J. Davies.
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 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.Neu′tral
,Noun.
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. R. G. Harper.
Webster 1828 Edition
Neutral
NEUTRAL
,Adj.
1.
Not engaged on either side; not taking an active part with either of contending parties. It is policy for a nation to be neutral when other nations are at war. Belligerents often obtain supplies from neutral states.2.
Indifferent; having no bias in favor of either side or party.3.
Indifferent; neither very good nor bad.Some things good, and some things ill do seem, And neutral some in her fantastic eye.
Neutral salt, in chimistry, a salt or body composed of two primitive saline substances in combination, and possessing the character neither of an acid or alkaline salt; or a combination of an acid with any substance which destroys its acidity; any salt saturated with an alkali, an earth or a metal. But it is more usual to denominate neutral, a salt which is united with an alkaline substance, and to cal the others earthy or metallic.
NEUTRAL
,Noun.
The neutral, as far as his commerce extends, becomes a party in the war.