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nature
[ ney-cher ]
noun
- the material world, especially as surrounding humankind and existing independently of human activities.
- the natural world as it exists without human beings or civilization:
In nature, wild dogs hunt in packs.
- the elements of the natural world, as mountains, trees, animals, or rivers:
The abandoned power plant was reclaimed by nature, covered in overgrowth and home to feral animals.
- natural scenery:
Tourists at the resort are surrounded by nature.
- the universe, with all its phenomena:
Conservation of energy is a universal law of nature.
- the sum total of the forces at work throughout the universe.
- reality, as distinguished from any effect of art:
a portrait true to nature.
- the particular combination of qualities belonging to a person, animal, thing, or class by birth, origin, or constitution; native or inherent character:
human nature.
- the instincts or inherent tendencies directing conduct:
a man of good nature.
- character, kind, or sort:
two books of the same nature.
- characteristic disposition; temperament: an evil nature.
a self-willed nature;
an evil nature.
- the original, natural, uncivilized condition of humankind.
- the biological functions or the urges to satisfy their requirements.
- a primitive, wild condition; an uncultivated state.
- a simple, uncluttered mode of life without the conveniences or distractions of civilization:
a return to nature.
- (initial capital letter, italics) a prose work (1836), by Ralph Waldo Emerson, expounding transcendentalism.
- Theology. the moral state as unaffected by grace.
nature
/ ˈԱɪʃə /
noun
- the fundamental qualities of a person or thing; identity or essential character
- often capital, esp when personified the whole system of the existence, arrangement, forces, and events of all physical life that are not controlled by man
- all natural phenomena and plant and animal life, as distinct from man and his creations
- a wild primitive state untouched by man or civilization
- natural unspoilt scenery or countryside
- disposition or temperament
- tendencies, desires, or instincts governing behaviour
- the normal biological needs or urges of the body
- sort; kind; character
- the real appearance of a person or thing
a painting very true to nature
- accepted standards of basic morality or behaviour
- biology the complement of genetic material that partly determines the structure of an organism; genotype Compare nurture
- sympathy and fondness for one's own people or native place
she is full of nature
- against natureunnatural or immoral
- by natureessentially or innately
- call of nature informal.the need to urinate or defecate
- from natureusing natural models in drawing, painting, etc
- in the nature of or of the nature ofessentially the same as; by way of
nature
- The world and its naturally occurring phenomena, together with all of the physical laws that govern them.
- Living organisms and their environments.
Other Word Forms
- Բtܰ· adjective
- t·Բtܰ adjective noun
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of nature1
Idioms and Phrases
- by nature, as a result of inborn or inherent qualities; innately:
She is by nature a kindhearted person.
- in a state of nature,
- in an uncivilized or uncultured condition.
- of / in the nature of, having the character or qualities of:
in the nature of an apology.
More idioms and phrases containing nature
see call of nature ; good nature ; second nature .Example Sentences
So much for the conservative nature of playoff hockey.
Donaldson favors, as I do, killing the current dinner and instituting something more tenable, but less Hollywood in nature.
People on the expedition had experiences being around nature that I think had not become evolutionarily accustomed to the threat that is our species.
Analysis predict the number of new vehicle registrations will fall due to the fluid nature of the current trade policy negotiations.
The warm spell is expected to give a temporary boost to nature as migratory birds arrive from afar and butterflies stretch their wings.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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