neutralization (n.)

  1. action intended to keep a country politically neutral or exclude it from a possible war; the neutralization of Belgium

    [ Syn: neutralisation ]

  2. a chemical reaction in which an acid and a base interact with the formation of a salt; with strong acids and bases the essential reaction is the combination of hydrogen ions with hydroxyl ions to form water

    [ Syn: neutralisation , neutralization reaction , neutralisation reaction ]

  3. (euphemism) the removal of a threat by killing or destroying it (especially in a covert operation or military operation)

    [ Syn: neutralisation ]

  4. action intended to nullify the effects of some previous action

    [ Syn: neutralisation , counteraction ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.