neat

UK: /ˈniːt/ US: /nit/ ,(nēt)

Inflections of 'neat' (adj):

neater

adj comparative

neatest

adj superlative

Inflections of 'neat' (n): npl: neat

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

neat¹ /nit/   adj., -er, -est, adv. 
adj. 

1. in a pleasingly orderly and clean condition:
   a neat room.
2. having a trim and graceful appearance, shape, style, etc.:
   a neat figure.
3. cleverly effective;
   skillful;
   adroit:
   a neat solution to the problem.
4. Slang Terms great;
   wonderful;
   fine:
   What a neat car!
5. Wine (of alcoholic drinks) with no ice or water added or any other liquid mixed.
neat•ly, adv. 
neat•ness, n. [uncountable] ]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

neat¹  (nēt), adj., -er, -est, adv. 
adj. 

1. in a pleasingly orderly and clean condition:
   a neat room.
2. habitually orderly and clean in appearance or habits:
   a neat person.
3. of a simple, pleasing appearance, style, design, etc.:
   a neat cottage.
4. cleverly effective in character or execution:
   a neat scheme; a neat solution.
5. Slang Terms great;
   wonderful;
   fine:
   What a neat car!
6. clever, dexterous, or apt:
   She gave a neat characterization of the old woman.
7. Wine straight (def. 33).
8. Building
   • (of cement) without sand or other aggregate.
   • (of plaster) without any admixture except hair or fiber.
9. net:
   neat profits.

adv. 

10. Informal Terms neatly.

• Latin nitidus shining, polished, handsome, spruce, equivalent. to nit(ēre) to shine + -idus -id⁴
• Middle French
• Middle English net spruce, trim, clean 1300–50

neat′ly, adv. 
neat′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. spruce, smart.
• 4. finished, well-planned.
• 6. adroit.
• 7. unmixed, pure.

Antonyms

• 1. sloppy.
• 6. maladroit.
• 7. mixed.

neat²  (nēt), n., pl. neat. 

1. Animal Husbandry an animal of the genus Bos;
   a bovine, as a cow or ox.

• bef. 900; Middle English neet, Old English nēat, cognate with Old Norse naut, Middle Dutch noot; akin to Old English nēotan to use, possess

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

neat / niːt/ adjective

1. clean, tidy, and orderly
2. liking or insisting on order and cleanliness; fastidious
3. smoothly or competently done; efficient: a neat job
4. pat or slick: his excuse was suspiciously neat
5. (of alcoholic drinks) without added water, lemonade, etc; undiluted
6. a less common word for net2
7. good; pleasing; admirable

Etymology: 16th Century: from Old French net, from Latin nitidus clean, shining, from nitēre to shine; related to Middle Irish niam beauty, brightness, Old Persian naiba- beautiful

ˈneatly adverb

ˈneatness noun

neat / niːt/ noun (neat)

1. a domestic bovine animal

Etymology: Old English neat