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neuter

 - 5 dictionary results

neu⋅ter

[noo-ter, nyoo-]
–adjective
1. Grammar.
a. noting or pertaining to a gender that refers to things classed as neither masculine nor feminine.
b. (of a verb) intransitive.
2. Biology. having no organs of reproduction; without sex; asexual.
3. Zoology. having imperfectly developed sexual organs, as the worker bees and ants.
4. Botany. having neither stamens nor pistils; asexual.
5. neutral; siding with no one.
–noun
6. Grammar.
a. the neuter gender.
b. a noun of that gender.
c. another element marking that gender.
d. an intransitive verb.
7. an animal made sterile by castration or spaying.
8. Zoology. a neuter insect.
9. a person or thing that is neutral.
–verb (used with object)
10. Veterinary Science. to spay or castrate (a dog, cat, etc.).

Origin:
1350–1400; < L neuter neither (of two), equiv. to ne not + uter either (of two); r. ME neutre < MF < L, as above
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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neu·ter   (nōō'tər, nyōō'-)   
adj.  
  1. Grammar

    1. Neither masculine nor feminine in gender.

    2. Neither active nor passive; intransitive. Used of verbs.

    3. Biology Having undeveloped or imperfectly developed sexual organs: the neuter caste in social insects.

    4. Botany Having no pistils or stamens; asexual.

    5. Zoology Sexually undeveloped.

    1. Biology Having undeveloped or imperfectly developed sexual organs: the neuter caste in social insects.

    2. Botany Having no pistils or stamens; asexual.

    3. Zoology Sexually undeveloped.

  2. Taking no side; neutral.

n.  
  1. Grammar

    1. The neuter gender.

    2. A neuter word.

    3. A neuter noun.

  2. A castrated animal.

  3. A sexually undeveloped or imperfectly developed insect, such as a worker bee.

  4. A plant without stamens or pistils.

  5. One that is neutral.

tr.v.   neu·tered, neu·ter·ing, neu·ters
To castrate or spay.

[Middle English neutre, from Old French, from Latin neuter, neither, neuter : ne-, not; see ne in Indo-European roots + uter, either; see kwo- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1neu·ter
Pronunciation: 'n(y)üt-&r
Function: noun
: a spayed or castrated animal (as a cat)

Main Entry: 2neuter
Function: transitive verb
: CASTRATE 1, ALTER neutered male cat became ill —Donald Caslow>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

neuter neu·ter (n&oomacr;'tər, ny&oomacr;'-)
adj.

  1. Having undeveloped or imperfectly developed sexual organs.

  2. Sexually undeveloped.

n.
A castrated animal. v. neu·tered, neu·ter·ing, neu·ters
To castrate or spay.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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