neuter

[ noo-ter, nyoo- ]

adjective

1. Grammar.
   1. noting or pertaining to a gender that refers to things classed as neither masculine nor feminine.
   2. (of a verb) intransitive.
2. Zoology, Botany. having no organs of reproduction; without sex; asexual.
3. Zoology. having imperfectly developed sexual organs, as the worker bees and ants.
4. neutral; siding with no one.

noun

1. Grammar.
   1. the neuter gender.
   2. a noun of that gender.
   3. another element marking that gender.
   4. an intransitive verb.
2. an animal made sterile by castration or spaying.
3. Zoology. a neuter insect.
4. a person or thing that is neutral.

verb (used with object)

1. Veterinary Science. to spay or castrate (a dog, cat, etc.).

neuter

/ ˈnjuːtə /

adjective

1. grammar
   1. denoting or belonging to a gender of nouns which for the most part have inanimate referents or do not specify the sex of their referents
   2. ( as noun )

      German ``Mädchen'' (meaning ``girl'') is a neuter

2. (of animals and plants) having nonfunctional, underdeveloped, or absent reproductive organs
3. sexless or giving no indication of sex

   a neuter sort of name

noun

1. a sexually underdeveloped female insect, such as a worker bee
2. a castrated animal, esp a domestic animal
3. a flower in which the stamens and pistil are absent or nonfunctional

verb

1. tr to castrate or spay (an animal)

Word History and Origins

Origin of neuter¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin neuter “neither (of two),” equivalent to ne “not” + uter “either (of two)”; replacing Middle English neutre, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of neuter¹

C14: from Latin, from ne not + uter either (of two)

Example Sentences

The mere threat of that — of publicly and explicitly neutering the Senate — could be enough for the GOP caucus to get in line.

From Salon

It had also been neutered in line with the law change, they added.

From BBC

The dangerous idea is that this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the Middle East by force, imposing order and neutering Israel’s enemies.

From BBC

Trump, an alpha male and America’s First White President, was symbolically castrated and neutered by Kamala Harris, a Black South Asian woman.

From Salon

"We had her neutered before the law came in; we had the liability insurance, we then thought we'd done all the Defra bits and pieces," said Mrs Moore.

From BBC

Related Words

• castrate
• mutilate
• spay
• sterilize