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neutral

neutral

3 3.2
A color like gray or beige that matches other colors
  • noun
  • /ˈnjuːtrəl/
translation icon : color neutro
  • These days, I am going for neutrals and muted but still rich-looking earth tones.
  • wear neutrals
  • neutrals as colors
  • palette of neutrals

OK, this one is like more neutrals and nudes.

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Examples

  • I'm wearing the shade Nearly Neutral on my cheeks right now.

  • Most people have a kind of selection of neutrals and Browns and greys.

  • I love a neutral like this.

  • You guys know that brown is kind of like a neutral dark brown.

  • But these are just great neutral, everyday tones.

  • And this is a very pretty kind of neutral beige shade.

  • Oftentimes, my style is heavily influenced by classic, casual pieces and, of course, mostly in neutrals.

    Blog text (27)
  • Almost all the clothes Karen designed were in neutrals: wheat, greige, ivory, bone, gray, brown—colors that were natural, casual, and elegant.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The living room was painted in a calming shade of neutral gray to match the furniture.

  • For the wedding, she chose a neutral color palette that included whites and soft beige tones.

Synonyms

white
vsneutral
1.0

A very light color that reflects most visible light like snow

is a non bright color used to coordinate with other colors
gray
vsneutral
  • US
90 1.0

A neutral color between black and white like a cloudy sky

is a non bright color chosen to match many other colors
beige
vsneutral
17 1.0

A pale light brown colour often used for walls or clothes

is a non bright color that easily matches many other shades
grayness
vsneutral
  • US
2 1.0

A dull color between white and black

is a non bright color concept used to match many different colors
off-white
vsneutral
1 3.0

A pale color close to white with a slight hint of another color

is a non bright color that is not strong and matches others easily

Antonyms

1.0

Very concentrated in taste or effect

235 1.0

Having a strong, vivid color that is easy to notice

23 3.0

Very bright and clear in color and easy to notice

Compounds

3 4.6

An area where no one fights or competes

1 4.1

A color like beige or grey that does not draw attention

Idiom Neutral
  • Archaic
9.9

An international language made to help people from different countries talk

neutral spirits
  • Specialized
7.7

Very strong clear alcohol used to make drinks like gin or liqueurs

How Bright

vivid
23 3.0
strong
1.0
neutral
3 3.2
muted
10 4.2
dull
31 1.0

Surface Forms

neutral singular
neutrals plural

Morphology

neutral = neuter (transparent) = neuter + al

The color sense 'not bright or strong' follows directly from the idea of 'neither'/'not pronounced', so learners who know the base can likely infer the meaning.

Etymology

Neutral used for colors comes from the Latin neuter 'neither of the two', so neutrals are 'neither' bright nor strong shades. That's why neutral colors like gray and beige go well with many other colors.