GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 3 definitions

  1.       
    Neat (nēt), n. sing. & pl. [AS. neát; akin to OHG. nōz, Icel. naut, Sw. nöt, Dan. nöd, and to AS. neótan to make use of, G. geniessen, Goth. niutan to have a share in, have joy of, Lith. nauda use, profit.] (Zool.) Cattle of the genus Bos, as distinguished from horses, sheep, and goats; an animal of the genus Bos; as, “a neat's tongue; a neat's foot.”  Chaucer.

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    Wherein the herds[men] were keeping of their neat. Spenser.

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    The steer, the heifer, and the calf

    Are all called neat. Shak.

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    A neat and a sheep of his own. Tusser.

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    Neat's-foot, an oil obtained by boiling the feet of neat cattle. It is used to render leather soft and pliable.

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  2.       
    Neat, a. [See neat, n.] Of or pertaining to the genus Bos, or to cattle of that genus; as, “neat cattle”.

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  3.       
    Neat, a. [Compar. Neater (?); superl. Neatest.] [OE. nett, F. nett, fr. L. nitidus, fr. nitere to shine.  Cf. Nitid, Net, a., Natty.]
    1. Free from that which soils, defiles, or disorders; clean; cleanly; tidy.

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    If you were to see her, you would wonder what poor body it was that was so surprisingly neat and clean. Law.

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    2. Free from what is unbecoming, inappropriate, or tawdry; simple and becoming; pleasing with simplicity; tasteful; chaste; as, “a neat style; a neat dress.”

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    3. Free from admixture or adulteration; good of its kind; as, “neat brandy; to drink one's vodka neat”. Hence: (Chem.) Pure; undiluted; as, “dissolved in neat acetone”. “Our old wine neat.” Chapman.

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    4. Excellent in character, skill, or performance, etc.; nice; finished; adroit; as, “a neat design; a neat thief.”

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    5. With all deductions or allowances made; net. [In this sense usually written net. See Net, a., 3.]

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    neat line (Civil Engin.), a line to which work is to be built or formed. -- Neat work, work built or formed to neat lines.

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    Syn. -- Nice; pure; cleanly; tidy; trim; spruce.

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