noun
nature
NAY-chuh
noun
1
The physical world and everything in it — plants, animals, landscapes, and natural forces — as distinct from human-made things.
"She loves hiking because it gets her out into nature."
"The documentary explores the beauty of nature in the Amazon rainforest."
2
A person or thing's essential character — the qualities that make them who or what they fundamentally are.
"It's just not in his nature to be cruel."
"Curiosity is part of human nature."
3
The general type or category something belongs to.
"Please describe the nature of your complaint."
"Questions of a personal nature were avoided during the interview."
How to Use Nature
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the natural world (trees, animals, weather) or the essential character of a person or thing.
Memory tip
If you can replace it with "the outdoors" it means the natural world; if you can replace it with "character" or "personality" it means someone's inherent traits.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
human nature
the nature of the problem
mother nature
second nature
Word Forms
natured past tense, natures plural, natures singular
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She loves hiking because it gets her out into _____.
Etymology
From Old French nature, from Latin natura ("birth, constitution, character"), from natus, "born" — the same root that gives us "native" and "nation."