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.
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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.
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Some things good, and some things ill, do seem,
And neutral some, in her fantastic eye. --Sir J.
Davies.
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3. (Biol.) Neuter. See {Neuter}, a., 3.
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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}.
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{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.
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