Neat

Neat is an adjective used in English to describe things that are tidy, orderly, and clean in appearance or condition. A neat space is free of clutter, a neat handwriting is legible, and a neat plan is well organized and concise. The term is common in everyday description and in professional contexts such as design and maintenance.

In addition to its primary sense, neat is used in specialized contexts to denote purity or lack of dilution. For example, a chemical or solvent described as neat is in its pure form rather than mixed with another substance.

The word also appears in beverage terminology. When a drink is served neat, it means its liquor is poured straight, without ice or water or other mixers. In wine and spirits, neat is contrasted with on the rocks, with water, or with cocktails.

NEAT is an acronym used in several fields. NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies (NEAT) is a method in artificial intelligence that evolves neural networks. Non-exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) denotes energy expenditure from daily activities other than intentional exercise, such as walking and fidgeting. The term thus spans everyday descriptive language and technical domains, illustrating how a single word can carry multiple, distinct meanings.