\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 [u^] in up, and is called also the
   {natural vowel}, as unformed by art and effort. See Guide
   to Pronunciation, [sect] 17.

\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.