Longman Dictionary English

Explore Nature Topic
Word family noun nature naturalist naturalism naturalization naturalness the supernatural natural naturist naturism adjective natural ≠ unnatural supernatural naturalistic verb naturalize adverb naturally ≠ unnaturally naturalistically supernaturally
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Related topics: Biology, Nature
naturena‧ture /ˈneɪtʃə $ -tʃər/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 plants/animals etc [uncountable] (also Nature)HBHE 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.GrammarDon’t say ‘the nature’ in this meaning. You say: the power of nature ✗Don’t say: the power of the nature 2 somebody’s character [countable, uncountable]CHARACTER/PERSONALITY someone’s character a child with a happy, easy-going naturesomebody’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, uncountable]CHARACTER OF something 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]TYPE 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 things6 → be in the nature of something7 → against nature8 → let nature take its course9 → back to nature → be/become second nature (to somebody) at second1(11), → the call of nature at call2(12)
Examples from the Corpus
nature• I've always been a nature lover.• Out of acorns, nature makes a machine that provides a luxurious home for people, animals, and plants.• She's generous by nature.• I am not by nature a violent man, but these insults were more than I could bear.• On the plains the farmers have to deal with frequent floods, but up in the hills their problems are of a different nature.• books of an erotic nature• Being distrustful had become a part of her nature.• It was not in his nature to take risks.• Kindness and sympathy were in his nature.• She was surprised to learn he had a romantic side to his nature.• Though this is impossible to us as humans, nature does it all the time.• the laws of nature• The arrival of man-made instruments represented the supplanting and indeed deliberate transcending of nature by human values.• The support being given is primarily of a practical nature.• He has a serious nature and his powers of concentration are a boon when it comes to his gruelling training schedule.• Children at this age commonly refer to being eaten up by tigers and lions and things of that nature.• Monnens spends his days explaining the nature of Internet advertising to clients.• The cruise was to be in the nature of a "rest cure".• It's in the nature of elections that campaigning sometimes gets quite tough.• But one can not be specific about the number of questions without knowing the nature of the project topic.• The choice of methods for a particular study will depend on the nature of the task and the resources available.• The doctor admitted that he didn't yet understand the nature of Julie's illness.• Computers, by their nature, tend to change the way offices are organized.• Thus it is very important to read the instructions carefully when using programmes of this nature.• My girlfriend has a rather unforgiving nature so I don't think that I'll tell her.the laws/forces of nature• Some people say that grips should be individual but I believe that it is impossible to change the laws of nature.• It was one of man's more successful attempts at curbing the forces of nature.• In a way, all of us dislike the laws of nature.• It is the laws of nature, not the local manifestations of them, that are universal.• After looking at me carefully, they decided that I was a creature outside the laws of nature.• Everything has been turned into pleasure, euphoria, the ecstasy of seeing the laws of nature crumble before your eyes.• But they were not willing to see one acre of irrigated land succumb to the forces of nature, regardless of cost.It’s ... in ... nature• It's in my nature to work very hard.• But they always do ripen; it's in their nature.nature of• Information technology has changed the nature of work.of a personal/political/difficult etc nature• She didn't think anything of a personal nature had entered the conversation.• Mahmoud had been unable to uncover anything of a personal nature which might have prompted the attack.• There are, however, several decrees of a political nature worthy of consideration, not previously discussed.• No donations of a political nature were made.• If Richard was not at home with words, still less was he at home with questions of a personal nature.NatureNature a British weekly journal (=serious magazine) which deals with all areas of science. It is a very respected journal, and many important new discoveries are first reported in articles in Nature.Origin nature (1200-1300) French Latin natura, from natus; → NATION
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