- nature
- na|tureW1S1 [ˈneıtʃə US -tʃər] n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(plants/animals etc)¦2¦(somebody's character)¦3¦(qualities of something)¦4¦(type)¦5 in the nature of things6 be in the nature of something7 let nature take its course8 back to nature▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[Date: 1200-1300; : French; Origin: Latin natura, from natus; NATION]1.) ¦(PLANTS/ANIMALS ETC)¦ also Nature[U]everything in the physical world that is not controlled by humans, such as wild plants and animals, earth and rocks, and the weather▪ We grew up in the countryside, surrounded by the beauties of nature.▪ nature conservationthe laws/forces of nature▪ The inhabitants of the island fight a constant battle against the forces of nature.in nature▪ All these materials are found in nature.▪ Disease is nature's way of keeping the population down.2.) ¦(SOMEBODY'S CHARACTER)¦ [U and C]someone's character▪ a child with a happy, easy-going naturesb's nature▪ It's just not in Jane's nature to lie.by nature▪ She was by nature a very affectionate person.▪ I tried appealing to his better nature (=his feelings of kindness) but he wouldn't agree to help us.▪ Of course she's jealous - it's only human nature (=the feelings and ways of behaving that all people have) .3.) ¦(QUALITIES OF SOMETHING)¦ [singular, U]the qualities or features that something hasnature of▪ They asked a lot of questions about the nature of our democracy.▪ He examined the nature of the relationship between the two communities.exact/precise/true nature▪ The exact nature of the problem is not well understood.different/political/temporary etc in nature▪ Any government funding would be temporary in nature.▪ Capitalist society is by its very nature unstable.4.) ¦(TYPE)¦ [singular]a particular kind of thingof a personal/political/difficult etc nature▪ The support being given is of a practical nature.of this/that nature▪ I never trouble myself with questions of that nature.5.) in the nature of thingsaccording to the natural way things happen▪ In the nature of things, there is bound to be the occasional accident.6.) be in the nature of sthformal to be similar to a type of thing▪ The enquiry will be more in the nature of a public meeting than a formal hearing.7.) let nature take its courseto allow events to happen without doing anything to change the results▪ Sometimes the best cure for an illness is just to let nature take its course.8.) back to naturea style of living in which people try to live simply and not use modern machines▪ city workers who want to get back to nature in their holidays
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
