— neutrally , adv.
/nooh"treuhl, nyooh"-/ , adj.
1. not taking part or giving assistance in a dispute or war between others: a neutral nation during World War II.
2. not aligned with or supporting any side or position in a controversy: The arbitrator was absolutely neutral.
3. of or belonging to a neutral state or party: neutral territory.
4. of no particular kind, characteristics, etc.; indefinite: a neutral personality that made no impression whatever; a sex-neutral job title.
5. (of a color or shade)
a. gray; without hue; of zero chroma; achromatic.
b. matching well with many or most other colors or shades, as white or beige.
6. Bot. , Zool. neuter.
7. not causing or reflecting a change in something: It is believed that the new tax law will be revenue neutral.
8. Chem. exhibiting neither acid nor alkaline qualities: neutral salts.
9. Physics.
a. (of a particle) having no charge.
b. (of an atom, molecule, collection of particles, fluid, or solid) having no net charge; electroneutral; not electrified.
c. not magnetized.
10. Phonet. (of a vowel) pronounced with the tongue relaxed in a central position, as the a in alive; reduced.
n.
11. a person or a nation that remains neutral, as in a controversy or war.
12. a citizen of a neutral nation during a war.
13. Mach. , Auto. the position or state of disengaged gears or other interconnecting parts: in neutral.
14. a neutral color.
[ 1400-50; late ME neutralis grammatically neuter. See NEUTER, -AL 1 ]
Syn. 2. impartial, disinterested, dispassionate, uninvolved, unbiased.