neat
♦ neat /n'iːt/ (neater neatest)
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A neat place, thing, or person is tidy and smart, and has everything in the correct place.
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.
● neatly [ADV] ADV with v
He folded his paper neatly and sipped his coffee...
At the door was a neatly dressed, dignified man.
= tidily
● neatness [N-UNCOUNT]
The grounds were a perfect balance between neatness and natural wildness.
= tidiness
2 [ADJ]
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.'
= tidy
≠ untidy
● neatly [ADV] ADV with v
He had maybe a thousand tapes, all neatly labelled and catalogued.
= tidily
● neatness [N-UNCOUNT]
...a paragon of neatness, efficiency and reliability.
= tidiness
3 [ADJ] 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.
● neatly [ADV] ADV -ed
She was a small woman, slender and neatly made.
4 [ADJ] 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.
≠ clumsy
● neatly [ADV] ADV with v
He watched her peel and dissect a pear neatly, no mess, no sticky fingers.
≠ clumsily
5 [ADJ]
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...
= nice
● neatly [ADV] ADV with v
Real people do not fit neatly into these categories...
= nicely
● neatness [N-UNCOUNT]
He knew full well he had been outflanked, and he appreciated the neatness of it.
6 [ADJ]
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...
= great, cool
7 [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; in AM, use straight)
He poured himself a brandy and swallowed it neat...
He took a mouthful of neat whisky, and coughed.
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A neat place, thing, or person is tidy and smart, and has everything in the correct place.
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.
● neatly [ADV] ADV with v
He folded his paper neatly and sipped his coffee...
At the door was a neatly dressed, dignified man.
= tidily
● neatness [N-UNCOUNT]
The grounds were a perfect balance between neatness and natural wildness.
= tidiness
2 [ADJ]
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.'
= tidy
≠ untidy
● neatly [ADV] ADV with v
He had maybe a thousand tapes, all neatly labelled and catalogued.
= tidily
● neatness [N-UNCOUNT]
...a paragon of neatness, efficiency and reliability.
= tidiness
3 [ADJ] 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.
● neatly [ADV] ADV -ed
She was a small woman, slender and neatly made.
4 [ADJ] 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.
≠ clumsy
● neatly [ADV] ADV with v
He watched her peel and dissect a pear neatly, no mess, no sticky fingers.
≠ clumsily
5 [ADJ]
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...
= nice
● neatly [ADV] ADV with v
Real people do not fit neatly into these categories...
= nicely
● neatness [N-UNCOUNT]
He knew full well he had been outflanked, and he appreciated the neatness of it.
6 [ADJ]
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...
= great, cool
7 [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; in AM, use straight)
He poured himself a brandy and swallowed it neat...
He took a mouthful of neat whisky, and coughed.