Dictionary

neuter en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈnjuːtə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈn(j)utɚ/ (US)

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English neutre, from Latin neuter, from ne (“not”) + uter (“either”), a semantic loan from Koine Greek οὐδέτερος (oudéteros); compare English either, English whether, and neither.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable, uncommon, usually) Neutral; on neither side; neither one thing nor another.
   • This is certain, that in all our Undertakings God will be either our Friend or our Enemy. For Providence never stands neuter […] 1672, Robert South, “A Sermon Preach’d at Westminster-Abbey, on the Twenty Ninth of May, 1672. Being the Anniversary Festival appointed by Act of Parliament, for the Happy Restoration of King Charles II”, in Twelve Sermons and Discourses on Several Subjects and Occasions, 6th edition, volume 5, London: Jonah Bowyer, published 1727, page 271:
   • [A]s their firſt Security, they did all they could to foment War betwixt the neighbouring Negroes, remaining Neuter themselves, by which Means, thoſe who were overcome conſtantly fled to them for Protection, otherwiſe they must be either killed or made Slaves. 1724, Charles Johnson [pseudonym], “Of Captain Avery, and His Crew”, in A General History of the Pyrates, […], 2nd edition, London: Printed for, and sold by T. Warner, […], →OCLC, pages 59-60:
   • A relay race that does not match teams but integrates the fastest and the slowest in one race against the most neuter of all adversaries — time. 1973, Nancy Frazier, Myra Sadker, Sexism in school and society:
   • But if I could, by Him that gave me life, I would attach you all and make you stoop Unto the sovereign mercy of the king; But since I cannot, be it known to you I do remain as neuter. 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene 3]:
2. (not-comparable, usually) Having a form which is not masculine nor feminine; or having a form which is not of common gender.
   • the neuter gender
   • Slaves were given short, often neuter, names. 1945, E[lizabeth] G[idley] Withycombe, “Introduction”, in The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page xiii:
   • the neuter definite article
   • a neuter termination
   • a neuter noun
   • In The Cook and the Carpenter, Arnold used the device of a neuter pronoun "na," instead of assigning gender to the characters. 1982 April 10, Maida Tilchen, “June Arnold Dies of Cancer”, in Gay Community News, page 3:
3. (not-comparable, usually) Intransitive.
   • a neuter verb
4. (not-comparable, usually) Sexless: having no or imperfectly developed sex organs.
   • […] I should never have anticipated that natural selection could have been efficient in so high a degree, had not the case of these neuter insects convinced me of the fact. 1859 November 24, Charles Darwin, “Instinct”, in On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 242:
5. (literary, not-comparable, usually) Sexless, non-sexual.
   • Rich girls stayed home and got married and then "put out" occasionally, but only as their wifely duty. Prior to the sexual revolution in the 1960s southern belles were the most neuter members of the human race[.] 2000, Jan Hutson, The Chicken Ranch: The True Story of the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, →ISBN, page 30:
6. (not-comparable, of an animal, usually) Castrated; having had the reproductive organs removed.

Forms

Coordinates

feminine · masculine

Deriveds

neuterlike · neuter gender · neuterly · neuterism · neuterdom · neuter voice · nonneuter · neuticles · neuterness

Synonyms

nonpersonal · neutral · fairhanded · uninterested · impartial · unbiased · nonpartial · cold · disinterested · dispassionate · spayed · asexual · imprejudicate · intransitive · unbigoted · indifferent · unpartisan · neutered · objective · equitable · detached · fair-minded · evenhanded · nonpartisan · unprepossessed · unprejudiced · neutral · egal · gelded · equal · platonic · impartial · nonaligned · unsexual · indistinguishing · clinical · asexual · genderless · candid · unpartial · neuter · sexless · fixed

Translations (134)

bg сре́ден (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · yi נייטראַל (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · ko 무성(無性)의 (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · he סְתָמִי (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · sv opartisk (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · ro neutru (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · es neutro (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · pt neutro (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · it neutrale (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · de geschlechtslos (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · km អលិង្គ (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · ja 中性的な (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · sl srédnji (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · lv neitrāls (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · nb uhildet (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · sk stredný (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · da kønsløs (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · pl nijaki (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · pl bezpłciowy (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · he מסורס \ מְסֹרָס (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · fr asexuel (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · pt intransitivo (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · nb nøytrum (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · nn inkjekjønn (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · sa नपुंसकलिङ्ग (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · pl neutralny (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · zza bêtesir (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · eo neŭtra (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · nl onpartijdig (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · ko 중성 (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · nb nøytral (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · grc οὐδέτερος (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · la neuter (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · ga neodrach (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · it neutro (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · fy ûnsidich (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · be бесстаронні (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · hu nem nélküli (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · be ніякі́ (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · nb upartisk (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · ru нейтра́льный (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · el άφυλος (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · fi sukupuoleton (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · oc neutre (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · fi neutrisukuinen (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · hy չեզոք (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · la neuter (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · gd neodrach (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · pt neutro (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · pt neutro (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · fi neutraali (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · te నపుంసకలింగము (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · cmn 中性的 (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · nb kjønnsløs (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · wa neute (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · ce юкъара род (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · la neutralis (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · nl ongeslachtelijk (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · nn nøytrum (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · sq asnjanës (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · nl aseksueel (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · es neutral (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · ar مُحَايِد (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · fr neutre (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · hu semlegesnemű (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · es neutro (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · sh srednji (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · uk сере́дній (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · de neuter (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · ko 중립(中立)의 (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · de neuter (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · sv neutral (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · lv nekatras dzimtes (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · de intransitiv (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · ko 자동사 (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · de sächlich (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · nb ukjønnet (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · de neutral (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · es neutro (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · nl afzijdig (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · ja 中立的な (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · pt neutro (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · el ουδέτερος (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · mr नपुसकलिंगी (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · hsb ničeji ród (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · el αμετάβατος (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · vi giống trung (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · mr निष्पक्ष (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · hu semleges (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · fa خنثی (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · ja 中性の (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · nl onzijdig (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · la neuter (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · fr impartial (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · lb sächlech (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · ga seasc (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · fi puolueeton (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · is hvorugkyns- (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · nb intetkjønn (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · cy diryw (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · fi neutrinen (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · es neutro (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · la neuter (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · da ukønnet (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · de neutrisch (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · it neutro (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · da intetkøn (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · bg безполов (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · sv neutral (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · hu semleges (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · be нейтральны (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · ru беспристра́стный (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · zza notr (diq) (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · tl balaki (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · vo neudik (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · pl nieprzechodni (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · sh средњи (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · ru сре́дний (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · de neutral (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · ja 中立の (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · cs střední (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · mr अलिंगी (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · ru неперехо́дный (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · sh neprelazni (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · ja 自動詞の (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · tr nötr (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · el ουδέτερος (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · fa کماسه (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · mk среден (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · mr नपुसकलिंग (grammar: intransitive — see also intransitive) · ru беспо́лый (having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones) · fo hvørkikyn (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine) · da neutral (neutral, neither one thing nor another) · tr yansız (grammar: having a form which is not masculine nor feminine)

neuter en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈnjuːtə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈn(j)utɚ/ (US)

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English neutre, from Latin neuter, from ne (“not”) + uter (“either”), a semantic loan from Koine Greek οὐδέτερος (oudéteros); compare English either, English whether, and neither.

Meanings

1. An organism, either vegetable or animal, which at its maturity has no generative organs, or but imperfectly developed ones, as a plant without stamens or pistils, as the garden Hydrangea; especially, one of the imperfectly developed females of certain social insects, as of the ant and the common honeybee, which perform the labors of the community, and are called workers.
2. (offensive, sometimes, uncommon) One who has been neutered; eunuch.
   • I WOULD SOONER BECOME A NEUTER no seriously tell me where the libido-suppressing pills are 2015 March 8, @OzKFodrotski, Twitter:
   • You can change yourself into a neuter, but you can't become the opposite sex. 2023 September 27, @Philosophy_the, Twitter:
   • the information i acquire may help me finalize my decision to become a neuter. let me say that castration is (for me) in no way a short term goal. it's something i've heard about, thought about, and believe may benefit me personally. 1999 July 21, ipso facto, “can anyone out there tell me...”, in alt.eunuchs.questions (Usenet):
3. The act of neutering (typically an animal)
   • Well, we've had a young (probably around a year old, but I'm guessing), intact (he's scheduled for a neuter, but it's one of those "when we get a spare minute" type of things) male Shih-tzu/shih-tzu mix come in about a month ago. 2001 March 14, Shelly, “Shih tzu questions.”, in rec.pets.dogs.behavior (Usenet):
4. A person who takes no part in a contest; someone remaining neutral.
   • But if you should beecome eyther a counterfayt Protestant, or a perverse Papist, or a colde and carelesse newter (which God forbid) the harme could not be expressed which you should do to your native Cuntrie. 1571, Arthur Golding, “Epistle Dedicatorie”, in The Psalmes of David and others. With M. John Calvins Commentaries:
   • Friends, neuters, enemies, all are as one, to make a fool a madman is their sport […]. 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition I, section 2, member 4, subsection iv:
5. The neuter gender.
6. A noun of the neuter gender; any one of those words which have the terminations usually found in neuter words.
7. An intransitive verb or state-of-being verb.
   • Make one do, or act (to), fare fare, fare agire, with an accusative when the verb is a neuter, and with a dative when otherwise. 1820, M. Santagnello, A Dictionary of the Peculiarities of the Italian Language, G. and W. B. Whittaker, page 185
   • Compound verbs other than those already spoken of whereby neuters are made active, are very rare, as I have already hinted under the head of nouns. 1847, Brian Houghton Hodgson, Essay the First; On the Kocch, Bódo and Dhimál Tribes, in Three Parts, J. Thomas, page 119
   • In all the Apachean languages, verbs are divided into two major categories, neuters and actives, each of which may be further divided into intransitives, transitives, and passives. 1971, Harry Hoijer, “Athapaskan Morphology”, in Jesse O. Sawyer, editor, Studies in American Indian Languages, University of California Press, published 1973, →ISBN, page 130:

Forms

Coordinates

gender · noun

Translations (75)

sa नपुंसाकलिङ्ग (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · sh средњи род (the neuter gender (grammar)) · nb nøytrum (the neuter gender (grammar)) · pl organizm bezpłciowy (biology: organism which at its maturity has no generative organs) · sq asnjanës (person who takes no part in a contest) · eo aĵgenro (the neuter gender (grammar)) · pl czasownik nieprzechodni (grammar: intransitive verb — see also intransitive verb) · ru сре́дний род (the neuter gender (grammar)) · ko 중성 (the neuter gender (grammar)) · fi puolueeton taho (person who takes no part in a contest) · pt neutro (the neuter gender (grammar)) · sk stredný rod (the neuter gender (grammar)) · cs střední rod (the neuter gender (grammar)) · de sächliches Hauptwort (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · nn nøytrum (the neuter gender (grammar)) · zza bêcınsiyet (the neuter gender (grammar)) · el ουδέτερος (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · de neutrisches Hauptwort (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · nb intetkjønnsord (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · pt neutro (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · gd neodar (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · cmn 中性 (the neuter gender (grammar)) · bg сре́ден род (the neuter gender (grammar)) · is hvorugkyn (the neuter gender (grammar)) · de Neutrum (the neuter gender (grammar)) · uk сере́дній рід (the neuter gender (grammar)) · be ніякі́ род (the neuter gender (grammar)) · gd gnè neodrach (the neuter gender (grammar)) · ja 中性 (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · bg непрехо́ден глаго́л (grammar: intransitive verb — see also intransitive verb) · da neutrum (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · da intetkøn n intetkønsord (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · hu semlegesnemű alak (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · nb nøytrum (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · fi neutri (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · de sächliches Substantiv (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · ga neodar (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · da intetkøn (the neuter gender (grammar)) · nn nøytrum (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · hu nem nélküli élőlény (biology: organism which at its maturity has no generative organs) · eo neŭtra genro (the neuter gender (grammar)) · fi neutri (the neuter gender (grammar)) · sv neutrum (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · sq asnjanës (the neuter gender (grammar)) · hu semlegesnem (the neuter gender (grammar)) · el άφυλος (biology: organism which at its maturity has no generative organs) · pl osoba postronna (person who takes no part in a contest) · da neutrum (the neuter gender (grammar)) · nn inkjekjønnsord (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · lt bevardė giminė (the neuter gender (grammar)) · de Neutrum (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · de sächliches Geschlecht (the neuter gender (grammar)) · nn inkjekjønn (the neuter gender (grammar)) · sv t-genus (the neuter gender (grammar)) · fr neutre (the neuter gender (grammar)) · nb intetkjønn (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · sh srednji rod (the neuter gender (grammar)) · ja 無変化動詞 (grammar: intransitive verb — see also intransitive verb) · de neutrisches Substantiv (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · ga neodar (biology: organism which at its maturity has no generative organs) · sv neutrum (the neuter gender (grammar)) · ga seascachán (biology: organism which at its maturity has no generative organs) · nb intetkjønn (the neuter gender (grammar)) · pl rodzaj nijaki (the neuter gender (grammar)) · de neutrisches Geschlecht (the neuter gender (grammar)) · my နပုလ္လိင် (the neuter gender (grammar)) · pl rzeczownik nijaki (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · ja 中性 (the neuter gender (grammar)) · ru неперехо́дный глаго́л (grammar: intransitive verb — see also intransitive verb) · ja 第三者 (person who takes no part in a contest) · is hvorugkynsnafnorð (grammar: noun of the neuter gender) · la verbum neutrum (grammar: intransitive verb — see also intransitive verb) · mr नपुंसकलिंग (the neuter gender (grammar)) · fi neutri (biology: organism which at its maturity has no generative organs) · nn inkjekjønn (grammar: noun of the neuter gender)

neuter en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈnjuːtə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈn(j)utɚ/ (US)

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English neutre, from Latin neuter, from ne (“not”) + uter (“either”), a semantic loan from Koine Greek οὐδέτερος (oudéteros); compare English either, English whether, and neither.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To remove sex organs from an animal to prevent it from having offspring; to castrate or spay, particularly as applied to domestic animals.
2. (transitive) To rid of sexuality.
   • The neutering extends to Believe’s guest stars, with warm-and-fuzzy verses from Ludacris (“I love everything about you / You’re imperfectly perfect”), Big Sean (“I don’t know if this makes sense, but you’re my hallelujah”), Nicki Minaj (who at least squeaks a “bitches” into her verse), and especially Drake, whose desire to hug and kiss the object of his affection on “Right Here” is reminiscent of The Red Hot Chili Peppers on Krusty’s Comeback Special. 2012 June 26, Genevieve Koski, “Music: Reviews: Justin Bieber: Believe”, in The Onion AV Club:
3. (transitive) To drastically reduce the effectiveness of something.
   • Congress neutered the bill by adding an exception for big corporations.
   • Here wrangling, bitty conflicts neutered change. 1974, John Boorman, Zardoz, London: Pan Books, page 51:
   • This collusion with the forces of corporate oppression neuters the press, Trump's critics and the Democratic Party. 2024 July 14, Chris Hedges, “My Thoughts On the Attempted Trump Assassination”, in The Chris Hedges Report:
4. (transitive) To make grammatically neuter.
   • At their religious services Am Tikva makes all attempts to de-genderize the liturgy by neutering English nouns and pronouns and, when Hebrew is used, by using both masculine and the feminine forms of the language. 1983 December 3, Warren Blumenfeld, “Am Tikva”, in Gay Community News, volume 11, number 20, page 7:

Forms

Synonyms

doctor · desex · spay · fix · castrate

Translations (42)

da kastrere (to remove sex organs from an animal) · hu ivartalanít (to remove sex organs from an animal) · fi leikata (to remove sex organs from an animal) · it castrare (to remove sex organs from an animal) · nl knippen (to remove sex organs from an animal) · sv kastrera (to remove sex organs from an animal) · sh škopiti (to remove sex organs from an animal) · ga neodraigh (to remove sex organs from an animal) · nl steriliseren (to remove sex organs from an animal) · el ευνουχίζω (to remove sex organs from an animal) · bg кастрирам (to remove sex organs from an animal) · sh štrojiti (to remove sex organs from an animal) · it sterilizzare (to remove sex organs from an animal) · de kastrieren (to remove sex organs from an animal) · id mengebiri (to remove sex organs from an animal) · ar خَصَى (to remove sex organs from an animal) · fi kuohita (to remove sex organs from an animal) · pt castrar (to remove sex organs from an animal) · pl kastrować (to remove sex organs from an animal) · ko 거세(去勢)하다 (to remove sex organs from an animal) · hu kiherél (to remove sex organs from an animal) · pt capar (to remove sex organs from an animal) · el στειρώνω (to remove sex organs from an animal) · ru обеспло́дить (to remove sex organs from an animal) · de verschneiden (to remove sex organs from an animal) · fi kastroida (to remove sex organs from an animal) · ko 중성화(中性化)하다 (to remove sex organs from an animal) · fr châtrer (to remove sex organs from an animal) · nl castreren (to remove sex organs from an animal) · ru кастри́ровать (to remove sex organs from an animal) · sq tredh (to remove sex organs from an animal) · pl wykastrować (to remove sex organs from an animal) · es capar (to remove sex organs from an animal) · sh kastrirati (to remove sex organs from an animal) · fi steriloida (to remove sex organs from an animal) · cs kastrovat (to remove sex organs from an animal) · is gelda (to remove sex organs from an animal) · fi kuohia (to remove sex organs from an animal) · fr castrer (to remove sex organs from an animal) · ee ta (to remove sex organs from an animal) · hu kasztrál (to remove sex organs from an animal) · es castrar (to remove sex organs from an animal)