- neat
- [[t]ni͟ːt[/t]]
♦♦♦neater, neatest1) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A neat place, thing, or person is tidy and smart, and has everything in the correct place.
So they left her in the neat little house, alone with her memories...
She undressed and put her wet clothes in a neat pile in the corner.
...a girl in a neat grey flannel suit...
Everything was neat and tidy and gleamingly clean.
Ant:shabby, scruffyDerived words:neatly ADV-GRADED ADV with vHe folded his paper neatly and sipped his coffee...
At the door was a neatly dressed, dignified man.
neatness N-UNCOUNTThe grounds were a perfect balance between neatness and natural wildness.
2) ADJ-GRADED Someone who is neat keeps their home or possessions tidy, with everything in the correct place.`That's not like Alf,' he said, `leaving papers muddled like that. He's always so neat.'
Syn:Ant:untidy, slovenlyDerived words:neatly ADV-GRADED ADV with vI followed her into that room which her mother had maintained so neatly...
He had maybe a thousand tapes, all neatly labelled and catalogued.
neatness N-UNCOUNT...a paragon of neatness, efficiency and reliability.
3) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A neat object, part of the body, or shape is quite small and has a smooth outline....a faded woman with neat features.
...neat handwriting.
Ant:Derived words:neatly ADV-GRADED ADV -edShe was a small woman, slender and neatly made.
4) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A neat movement or action is done accurately and skilfully, with no unnecessary movements.A neat move between Black and Keane left Nigel Clough in the clear, but his shot skimmed wide of the far post.
Syn:Ant:Derived words:neatly ADV-GRADED ADV with vHe watched her peel and dissect a pear neatly, no mess, no sticky fingers.
...watching a solitary car backing out neatly.
5) ADJ-GRADED A neat way of organizing, achieving, explaining, or expressing something is clever and convenient.It had been such a neat, clever plan...
Neat solutions are not easily found to these issues...
`Make the punishment fit the crime.' How neat and tidy it sounded.
Syn:Derived words:neatly ADV-GRADED ADV with vReal people do not fit neatly into these categories...
The theory that personality is determined by our biology neatly lets everyone off the hook.
neatness N-UNCOUNTHe knew full well he had been outflanked, and he appreciated the neatness of it.
6) ADJ-GRADED (approval) If you say that something is neat , you mean that it is very good. [AM, INFORMAL]`Oh, those new apartments are really neat,' the girl babbled on...
It'll be neat to have a father and son playing on the same team...
He thought Mick was a really neat guy.
Syn:great, cool7) ADJ: v n ADJ, ADJ n When someone drinks strong alcohol neat, they do not add a weaker liquid such as water to it. [mainly BRIT]He poured himself a brandy and swallowed it neat...
He took a mouthful of neat whisky, and coughed.
Syn:(in AM, use straight)
English dictionary. 2008.
