Neu"tral (?), n. 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.
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 ŭ in up, and is
called also the natural vowel, as unformed by art and effort. See Guide to Pronunciation, §
17.
Hear it pronounced