na·ture
Audio Help [ney-cher] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
Audio Help [ney-cher] Pronunciation Key –noun
—Idioms
| 1. | the material world, esp. as surrounding humankind and existing independently of human activities. |
| 2. | the natural world as it exists without human beings or civilization. |
| 3. | the elements of the natural world, as mountains, trees, animals, or rivers. |
| 4. | natural scenery. |
| 5. | the universe, with all its phenomena. |
| 6. | the sum total of the forces at work throughout the universe. |
| 7. | reality, as distinguished from any effect of art: a portrait true to nature. |
| 8. | the particular combination of qualities belonging to a person, animal, thing, or class by birth, origin, or constitution; native or inherent character: human nature. |
| 9. | the instincts or inherent tendencies directing conduct: a man of good nature. |
| 10. | character, kind, or sort: two books of the same nature. |
| 11. | characteristic disposition; temperament: a self-willed nature; an evil nature. |
| 12. | the original, natural, uncivilized condition of humankind. |
| 13. | the biological functions or the urges to satisfy their requirements. |
| 14. | a primitive, wild condition; an uncultivated state. |
| 15. | a simple, uncluttered mode of life without the conveniences or distractions of civilization: a return to nature. |
| 16. | (initial capital letter, italics ) a prose work (1836), by Ralph Waldo Emerson, expounding transcendentalism. |
| 17. | Theology. the moral state as unaffected by grace. |
| 18. | by nature, as a result of inborn or inherent qualities; innately: She is by nature a kindhearted person. |
| 19. | in a state of nature,
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| 20. | of or in the nature of, having the character or qualities of: in the nature of an apology. |
[Origin: 1200–50; ME natur(e) < OF < L nātūra conditions of birth, quality, character, natural order, world, equiv. to nāt(us) (ptp. of nāscī to be born) + -ūra -ure
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] —Related forms
na·ture·like, adjective
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
in the nature of
To learn more about in the nature of visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
in the nature of
having the qualities of
Example: His words were in the nature of a threat.
See also: -natured, nature, "in the nature of" in any languageExample: His words were in the nature of a threat.
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
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