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neuter
neu·ter / ˈn(y)oōtər/ • adj. 1. of or denoting a gender of nouns in some languages, typically contrasting with masculine and feminine or common: it is a neuter word in Greek. 2. (of an animal) lacking developed sexual organs, or having had them removed. ∎ (of a plant or flower) having neither functional pistils nor functional stamens. ∎ (of a person) apparently having no sexual characteristics; asexual. • n. 1. Gram. a neuter word. ∎ (the neuter) the neuter gender. 2. a nonfertile caste of social insect, esp. a worker bee or ant. ∎ a castrated or spayed domestic animal. ∎ a person who appears to lack sexual characteristics. • v. [tr.] castrate or spay (a domestic animal): [as adj.] (neutered) a neutered tomcat. ∎ render ineffective; deprive of vigor or force: disarmament negotiations that will neuter their military power. |
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"neuter." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "neuter." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-neuter.html "neuter." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-neuter.html |
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NEUTER
NEUTER. A term referring to grammatical GENDER in nouns and related words, contrasting with masculine and feminine in languages that have three genders such as GERMAN and LATIN. Although there is some connection between natural and grammatical gender in such languages, a word which is grammatically neuter may be semantically quite different: in German das Kind (the child); das Mädchen (the girl). The personal pronoun it is sometimes said to be neuter in gender, but more accurately it is non-personal since it may be used to refer to animals and babies.
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TOM McARTHUR. "NEUTER." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. TOM McARTHUR. "NEUTER." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-NEUTER.html TOM McARTHUR. "NEUTER." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-NEUTER.html |
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neuter
neuter neither masculine nor feminine XIV; intransitive; neutral XVI; asexual, sterile XVIII. — (O)F. neutre or its source L. neuter, f. ne- (see NO3) + uter either of two.
So neutral not taking sides; occupying a middle position XVI; (chem.) XVII. — F. †neutral or L. neutrālis. neutrality XV. — (O)F. or medL. |
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T. F. HOAD. "neuter." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "neuter." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-neuter.html T. F. HOAD. "neuter." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-neuter.html |
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neuter
neuter An organism that does not possess either male or female reproductive organs. Cultivated ornamental flowers that have neither pistils nor stamens are called neuters.
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"neuter." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "neuter." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-neuter.html "neuter." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-neuter.html |
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neuter
neuter •exploiter, goitre (US goiter), loiter, reconnoitre (US reconnoiter), Reuter
•anointer, appointer, jointer, pointer
•cloister, hoister, oyster, roister
•accoutre (US accouter), commuter, computer, disputer, hooter, looter, neuter, pewter, polluter, recruiter, refuter, rooter, saluter, scooter, shooter, souter, suitor, tooter, transmuter, tutor, uprooter
•booster, rooster
•doomster • freebooter • sharpshooter
•peashooter • six-shooter
•troubleshooter • prosecutor
•persecutor • prostitutor
•telecommuter
•footer, putter
•Gupta • Worcester • Münster
•pussyfooter • executor
•contributor, distributor
•collocutor, interlocutor
•abutter, aflutter, butter, Calcutta, clutter, constructor, cutter, flutter, gutter, mutter, nutter, scutter, shutter, splutter, sputter, strutter, stutter, utter
•abductor, conductor, destructor, instructor, obstructor
•insulter
•Arunta, Bunter, chunter, Grantha, grunter, Gunter, hunter, junta, punter, shunter
•corrupter, disrupter, interrupter
•sculptor
•adjuster, Augusta, bluster, buster, cluster, Custer, duster, fluster, lustre (US luster), muster, thruster, truster
•huckster • Ulster • dumpster
•funster, Munster, punster
•funkster, youngster
•gangbuster • filibuster • blockbuster
•semiconductor • headhunter
•woodcutter
•lacklustre (US lackluster)
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Cite this article
"neuter." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "neuter." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-neuter.html "neuter." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-neuter.html |
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