neu ‧ tral ‧ ize AC BrE AmE ( also neutralise British English ) /ˈnjuːtrəlaɪz $ ˈnuː-/ verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ neutral , ↑ neutrality , ↑ neutralization ; verb : ↑ neutralize ; adverb : ↑ neutrally ; adjective : ↑ neutral ]
1 . to prevent something from having any effect SYN balance out :
Rising prices neutralize increased wages.
2 . technical to make a substance chemically ↑ neutral :
a medicine that neutralizes the acid in the stomach
3 . to make an area ↑ neutral in a war
4 . to destroy something that is dangerous to you during a war
—neutralization /ˌnjuːtrəlaɪˈzeɪʃ ə n $ ˌnuːtrələ-/ noun [uncountable]