neutral

Everyday

1. Not taking any side in an argument, game or war. tree →
2. (science) Neither acid nor alkali (pH 7, like pure water). tree →
3. (science) Having no electric charge. tree →
4. Of colour: not bright; beige, grey, cream. tree →
5. (noun) The gear position in a car where the engine is not connected to the wheels. tree →
6. Showing no strong feeling (a neutral face). tree →

In the lessons

In science: neutral solutions have pH 7; neutrons are neutral particles. In sport: a neutral referee; a match at a neutral ground. In history: a neutral country stays out of a war. Phrases: stay neutral, neutral colours, in neutral.

Examples

• The referee must be neutral. tree →
• Pure water is neutral, neither acid nor alkali. tree →
• Switzerland stayed neutral in the war. tree →
• She painted the walls a neutral beige. tree →
• Put the car in neutral before starting. tree →
• His face was neutral, so I could not tell if he was cross. tree →
• The final was played at a neutral ground. tree →

Note

Adjective; noun: neutrality. Verb: neutralise / neutralize (to make neutral, e.g. an acid). For numbers: on the pH scale, 7 is neutral, below 7 is acid, above 7 is alkali. A neutral atom has equal numbers of protons and electrons.