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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary neu·ter
\\ˈnü-tər, ˈnyü-\\ adjective ETYMOLOGY Middle English neutre, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French neutre, from Latin neuter, literally, neither, from ne-not + uter which of two — more at no , whether DATE 14th century 1. a. of, relating to, or constituting the gender that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to things classed as neither masculine nor feminine b. neither active nor passive : intransitive 2. taking no side : neutral 3. lacking or having imperfectly developed or nonfunctional generative organs the worker bee is neuter
noun DATE 15th century 1. a. a noun, pronoun, adjective, or inflectional form or class of the neuter gender b. the neuter gender 2. one that is neutral 3. a. worker 2 b. a spayed or castrated animal
transitive verb DATE 1903 1. castrate , alter 2. to remove the force or effectiveness of English Etymology neuter neuter (adj.) late 14c., of grammatical gender, "neither masculine nor feminine," from L. neuter, lit. "neither one nor the other," from ne-"not, no" (see un-) + uter "either (of two);" probably a loan-translation of Gk. oudeteros "neither, neuter." In 16c., it had the sense of "taking neither side, neutral." The verb is 1903, from the adj., originally in ref. to pet cats. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 neuter neu·ter / 5nju:tE(r); NAmE 5nu:tE(r) / adjective (grammar 语法) (in some languages 用于某些语言) belonging to a class of nouns, pronouns, adjectives or verbs whose gender is not feminine or masculine 中性的: The Polish word for 'window' is neuter. 波兰语里"窗户"一词是中性的。 verb[VN] 1. to remove part of the sex organs of an animal so that it cannot produce young 阉割(动物): Has your cat been neutered? 你家的猫阉过了吗？ 2. (disapproving) to prevent sth from having the effect that it ought to have 使失去作用 Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged neu·ter I. \ˈn(y)üd.ə(r), -ütə-\ adjective Etymology: Middle English neutre, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French neutre, from Latin neuter, literally, neither, from ne- (negative prefix) + uter which of two — more at no , whether 1. a. : belonging to, connected with, or constituting the gender that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring characteristically to things that are neither masculine nor feminine < a neuter noun > < the neuter gender > < a neuter ending > b. : neither active nor passive : intransitive ; also : restricted to mere existence or state — used of verbs and verb forms2. : taking no side : free from marked bias or partiality : neutral 3. : belonging to neither of two usually opposed classes 4. a. : having no generative organs : sexless b. : having imperfectly developed or nonfunctional generative organs either permanently or seasonally < the worker bee is neuter > • neu·ter·ly adverb • neu·ter·ness noun -es II. noun (-s) 1. a. : a noun, pronoun, adjective, or inflectional form or class of the neuter gender b. : the neuter gender 2. a. : one that is neutral b. usually capitalized : neutral 1b3. a. : an imperfectly developed female of various social insects (as ants and honeybees) that performs labors of the community : worker b. : a spayed or castrated animal (as a cat) III. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) : castrate , alter |
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