neutralization
(njuːtrəlaɪˈzeɪʃən)
[f. next + -ation. Cf. F. neutralisation (1797).]
1. The action of neutralizing by means of something having an opposite nature or effect; an instance of this: a. Chem. and Electr.
| 1808 Davy in Phil. Trans. XCIX. 101 A species of neutralization, by the oxide or inflammable body. 1827 Faraday Chem. Manip. xii. 274 Neutralizations are best effected with the assistance of heat. 1860 G. B. Prescott Electr. Telegr. 16 The neutralization of the two contrary electricities..may take place according to different modes. 1881 Rep. Brit. Assoc. 574 The neutralisation of a particular quantity of a given acid. |
b. In general use.
| 1817 Coleridge Biog. Lit. I. ii. 45 This is one instance among many of deception, by the telling the half of a fact, and omitting the other half, when it is from their mutual counteraction and neutralization, that the whole truth arises. 1856 Dove Logic Chr. Faith i. ii. §2. 84 The cause of the neutralization or compensation of equal opposing force. 1866 Aitken Pract. Med. II. 35 The principle of cure..which has been called the method of neutralization. 1885 A. M. Clerke Pop. Hist. Astron. 52 The point of neutralisation of opposing tendencies. |
c. Ophthalm. Combination of a lens with one or more of known power, as a means of finding its power.
| 1897 J. Thorington Retinoscopy iv. 34 This movement, at such a point in neutralization, may give a hint as to the presence of astigmatism. 1946 Dickinson & Hall Contact Lenses vii. 82 The lenses should be checked for accuracy of focus and curve. In the absence of a refractionometer, neutralization may be employed. 1974 Jalie & Wray Pract. Ophthalmic Lenses 5 The measurement of the focal power of lenses can be done in many ways. Two main methods are used for ophthalmic lenses: (1) Neutralization. (2) Vertex power measuring instruments. |
d. Electronics. The cancellation of internal feedback in an amplifier, etc. (see neutralize v. 3 c).
| 1923 Wireless World 21 Apr. 69/2 Neutralisation is secured provided coils L and L1 are correctly coupled. 1943 F. E. Terman Radio Engineers' Handbk. v. 469 Cross neutralization is used with push-pull amplifiers... It can be thought of as a form of neutrodyne that takes advantage of the fact that the voltages on the two sides of a push-pull amplifier are of opposite polarity, thus giving the phase relations required for neutralizing. 1961 Gray & Graham Radio Transmitters iii. 64 Many systems of neutralization are based on forming a balanced bridge with the tube grid-to-plate capacity forming one of the arms of the bridge. 1962 Simpson & Richards Physical Princ. Junction Transistors vii. 132 It is possible to determine the elements of an external feedback circuit which will accomplish the required neutralization. Since the transistor is thereby made into a one-way device, in which an input signal can influence the output but the reverse is not true, the compensation process is often called ‘unilateralization’. 1968 [see neutralize v. 3 c]. |
2. The action of making neutral in time of war.
| 1870 Echo 14 Nov., Russia had..declared that the neutralisation of the Black Sea was unsupportable. 1885 Manch. Exam. 27 Feb. 5/3 The neutralisation of the Congo basin. |
3. Linguistics. The levelling out of certain phonemic or morphemic distinctions in particular contexts.
| 1942 C. F. Hockett in Language XVIII. 10 Any talk of neutralization or cancellation or archiphonemes confuses the facts without adding anything. 1947 K. L. Pike Phonemics 243/2 Neutralization of oppositions, the occurrence in some environment of a segment phonetically similar to and mutually exclusive with two other contrasting segments. 1949 A. Martinet Phonology as Functional Phonetics 7 Care should be taken not to mistake the non⁓appearance of a phoneme in a given position with a neutralization. 1962 Amer. Speech XXXVII. 69 Review of extant phonemic analyses of Modern Icelandic..and proposal of a third solution hinging on the Prague concept of neutralization. 1964 E. Palmer tr. Martinet's Elem. General Linguistics iii. 69 Where an archiphoneme is manifested there is said to be neutralization. 1968 Language XLIV. 475, I understand neutralization to mean the lack of consonance between form contrasts and function contrasts in all parts of a single linguistic sub-system. 1972 Hartmann & Stork Dict. Lang. & Ling. 151 Neutralisation, the cancelling of a phonemic opposition in certain positions. 1973 Word 1970 XXVI. 102 Morphological neutralization occurs in such examples as alemães and alemãs (both pronounced [the same]). |
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Add: 4. euphem. The action or process of rendering harmless; spec. killing, assassination. orig. U.S.
| 1971 N.Y. Times 7 Apr. 87/2 His lawyer discussed ‘precise neutralization’ (the killing of a villager determined to be a Communist) and ‘imprecise neuralization’ (the killing of a villager not quite determined to be a Communist). 1976 L. Jaworski Right & Power iii. 32 On July 28, 1971, Hunt wrote a memorandum to Colson entitled ‘Neutralization of Ellsburg’... ‘This basic tool is essential in determining how to destroy his public image and credibility.’ |