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. [ 1913 Webster ]

If you were to see her, you would wonder what poor body it was that was so surprisingly neat and clean. Law. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Free from what is unbecoming, inappropriate, or tawdry; simple and becoming; pleasing with simplicity; tasteful; chaste; as, a neat style; a neat dress. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

4. Excellent in character, skill, or performance, etc.; nice; finished; adroit; as, a neat design; a neat thief. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. With all deductions or allowances made; net. [ In this sense usually written net. See Net, a., 3. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

neat line (Civil Engin.), a line to which work is to be built or formed. --
Neat work, work built or formed to neat lines. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Nice; pure; cleanly; tidy; trim; spruce. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. sing. & pl. [ AS. neát; akin to OHG. nōz, Icel. naut, Sw. nöt, Dan. nöd, and to AS. neótan 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wherein the herds[ men ] were keeping of their neat. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

The steer, the heifer, and the calf
Are all called neat. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A neat and a sheep of his own. Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Neat's-foot, an oil obtained by boiling the feet of neat cattle. It is used to render leather soft and pliable. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See neat, n. ] Of or pertaining to the genus Bos, or to cattle of that genus; as, neat cattle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person who has the care of neat cattle; a cowherd. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A building for the shelter of neat cattle. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Neat, a. + -fy. ] To make neat. [ Obs. ] olland. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a neat manner; tidily; tastefully. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being neat. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From neat cattle. ] A woman who takes care of cattle. [ R. ] Warner. [ 1913 Webster ]