neutralization

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

neutralization
    n 1: action intended to keep a country politically neutral or
         exclude it from a possible war; "the neutralization of
         Belgium" [syn: {neutralization}, {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: {neutralization},
       {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: {neutralization}, {neutralisation}]
    4: action intended to nullify the effects of some previous
       action [syn: {neutralization}, {neutralisation},
       {counteraction}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Neutralization \Neu`tral*i*za"tion\, n. [Cf. F. neutralisation.]
   1. The act or process of neutralizing, or the state of being
      neutralized.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Chem.) The act or process by which an acid and a base are
      combined in such proportions that the resulting compound
      is neutral. See {Neutral}, a., 4.
      [1913 Webster]