adjective

1. 1. not taking part in either side of a dispute or quarrel
   2. not taking part in a war; giving no active aid to any belligerent
2. of, belonging to, or characteristic of a nation not taking part in a war or not aligning itself with either side in a power struggle
3. belonging to neither extreme in type, kind, etc.; without strongly marked characteristics; indefinite, indifferent, middling, etc.
4. having little or no decided color; not vivid beige is a neutral color
5. Biol. neuter
6. Chem. giving neither acid nor alkaline reaction
7. Elec. neither negative nor positive; uncharged
8. Phonet. articulated with the tongue relaxed and in the mid-central position, as the vowel in most unstressed syllables, the (ə)

Etymology: Fr < ML neutralis < L, of neuter gender < neuter: see neuter

noun

1. a nation not taking part in a war or conflict; neutral power
2. a neutral person or a citizen of a neutral country
3. a neutral color
4. Mech. a disengaged position of gears, in which they do not transmit power from the engine to the operating parts