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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Neat \Neat\ (n[=e]t), n. sing. & pl. [AS. ne['a]t; akin to OHG.
n[=o]z, Icel. naut, Sw. n["o]t, Dan. n["o]d, and to AS.
ne['o]tan to make use of, G. geniessen, Goth. niutan to have
a share in, have joy of, Lith. nauda use, profit.] (Zool.)
Cattle of the genus {Bos}, as distinguished from horses,
sheep, and goats; an animal of the genus {Bos}; as, a neat's
tongue; a neat's foot. --Chaucer.
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Wherein the herds[men] were keeping of their neat.
--Spenser.
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The steer, the heifer, and the calf
Are all called neat. --Shak.
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A neat and a sheep of his own. --Tusser.
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{Neat's-foot}, an oil obtained by boiling the feet of neat
cattle. It is used to render leather soft and pliable.
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Neat \Neat\, a. [See {neat}, n.]
Of or pertaining to the genus {Bos}, or to cattle of that
genus; as, neat cattle.
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Neat \Neat\, a. [Compar. {Neater}; superl. {Neatest}.] [OE.
nett, F. nett, fr. L. nitidus, fr. nitere to shine. Cf.
{Nitid}, {Net}, a., {Natty}.]
1. Free from that which soils, defiles, or disorders; clean;
cleanly; tidy.
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If you were to see her, you would wonder what poor
body it was that was so surprisingly neat and clean.
--Law.
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2. Free from what is unbecoming, inappropriate, or tawdry;
simple and becoming; pleasing with simplicity; tasteful;
chaste; as, a neat style; a neat dress.
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3. Free from admixture or adulteration; good of its kind; as,
neat brandy; to drink one's vodka neat. Hence: (Chem.)
Pure; undiluted; as, dissolved in neat acetone. "Our old
wine neat." --Chapman.
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4. Excellent in character, skill, or performance, etc.; nice;
finished; adroit; as, a neat design; a neat thief.
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5. With all deductions or allowances made; net.

Note: [In this sense usually written {net}. See {Net}, a.,
3.]
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{neat line} (Civil Engin.), a line to which work is to be
built or formed.

{Neat work}, work built or formed to neat lines.
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Syn: Nice; pure; cleanly; tidy; trim; spruce.
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