nature

[ ney-cher ]

noun

1. the material world, especially as surrounding humankind and existing independently of human activities.
2. the natural world as it exists without human beings or civilization:

   In nature, wild dogs hunt in packs.

3. 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.

4. natural scenery:

   Tourists at the resort are surrounded by nature.

5. the universe, with all its phenomena:

   Conservation of energy is a universal law of nature.

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: an evil nature.

    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.

nature

/ ˈneɪtʃə /

noun

1. the fundamental qualities of a person or thing; identity or essential character
2. 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
3. all natural phenomena and plant and animal life, as distinct from man and his creations
4. a wild primitive state untouched by man or civilization
5. natural unspoilt scenery or countryside
6. disposition or temperament
7. tendencies, desires, or instincts governing behaviour
8. the normal biological needs or urges of the body
9. sort; kind; character
10. the real appearance of a person or thing

    a painting very true to nature

11. accepted standards of basic morality or behaviour
12. biology the complement of genetic material that partly determines the structure of an organism; genotype Compare nurture
13. sympathy and fondness for one's own people or native place

    she is full of nature

14. against nature
    unnatural or immoral
15. by nature
    essentially or innately
16. call of nature informal.
    the need to urinate or defecate
17. from nature
    using natural models in drawing, painting, etc
18. in the nature of or of the nature of
    essentially the same as; by way of

nature

/ nā′chər /

1. The world and its naturally occurring phenomena, together with all of the physical laws that govern them.
2. Living organisms and their environments.

Other Words From

• nature·like adjective
• anti·nature adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nature¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English natur(e), from Old French, from Latin nātūra “conditions of birth, quality, character, natural order, world,” equivalent to nāt(us) (past participle of nāscī “to be born”) + -ūra noun suffix; -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of nature¹

C13: via Old French from Latin nātūra, from nātus, past participle of nascī to be born

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. by nature, as a result of inborn or inherent qualities; innately:

   She is by nature a kindhearted person.

2. in a state of nature,
   1. in an uncivilized or uncultured condition.
   2. without clothes; nude; naked.
3. 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

In a 2021 essay, she cited Trump’s “intensive efforts to chip away at the apolitical nature of the American military” as a means of using the armed forces to help him try to stay in power after losing the 2020 election.

From Los Angeles Times

In many ways, nature became Tanton’s religion, and the mission to protect it consumed him.

From Salon

In his Charlottesville manifesto, he wrote, “We have the potential to become nature’s steward or its destroyer.”

From Salon

He described climate change and immigration as parts of the same problem and decried “rampant urbanization and industrialization, ever expanding cities and shrinking forests, a complete removal of man from nature.”

From Salon

This past February, the Wyoming Active Club, a white supremacist organization, plastered stickers around Campbell County in the northeast part of the state that pictured mountain forests and said, “Preserve Nature, End Immigration.”

From Salon

Related Words

• character
• description
• sort
• structure
• style
• variety
• way