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| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Language: | French |
| Origin: | net, from Latin nitidus 'bright, neat', from nitere 'to shine' |
1 tidy and carefully arranged : 
neat handwriting
tidy
neat handwriting2 someone who is neat likes to keep things tidy : I've always been quite neat.
liking things tidy
I've always been quite neat.3 very good, pleasant, or enjoyable : That's a really neat idea. I liked working for him - he was a neat guy.
good
American English spokenThat's a really neat idea.I liked working for him - he was a neat guy.4 something that is neat is small and attractive : her small, neat features
small
her small, neat features5 a neat way of doing or saying something is simple but clever and effective : In the end we found a very neat solution to the problem. a neat summary of the main issues
clever
formalIn the end we found a very neat solution to the problem.a neat summary of the main issues6 a neat alcoholic drink has no ice or water or any other liquid added [= straight]: I can't drink brandy neat. drinking neat whisky
drinks
DFD especially British EnglishI can't drink brandy neat.drinking neat whisky —neatly adverb: He wrote his name neatly at the bottom of the page. The problem was neatly summed up by one of the teachers.
He wrote his name neatly at the bottom of the page.The problem was neatly summed up by one of the teachers. —neatness noun [uncountable]
WORD FOCUS: good 
WORD FOCUS: good very good: excellent, fantastic, wonderful, great, terrific, neat American English, superb, amazing, outstanding, brilliant, impressive, fine, first-class, out of this world
of good quality: high quality, top quality, superior, deluxe, classy
morally good: decent, virtuous, respectable, honourable British English/honorable American English, upright, beyond reproach
➔ See also good
