Adjacent Words

Nature definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

NATURE, n. [L. from nature, born, produced,]
1. In a general sense, whatever is made or produced; a word that comprehends all the works of God; the universe. Of a phoenix we say, there is no such thing in nature.
And look through nature up to natures God.
2. By a metonymy of the effect for the cause, nature is used for the agent, creator, author, producer of things, or for the powers that produce them. By the expression, trees and fossils are produced by nature, we mean, they are formed or produced by certain inherent powers in matter, or we mean that they are produced by God, the Creator, the Author of whatever is made or produced. The opinion that things are produced by inherent powers of matter, independent of a supreme intelligent author, is atheism. But generally men mean by nature, thus used, the Author of created things, or the operation of his power.
3. The essence, essential qualities or attributes of a thing, which constitute it what it is; as the nature of the soul; the nature of blood; the nature of a fluid; the nature of plants, or of a metal; the nature of a circle or an angle. When we speak of the nature of man, we understand the peculiar constitution of his body or mind, or the qualities of the species which distinguish him from other animals. When we speak of the nature of a man, or an individual of the race, we mean his particular qualities or constitution; either the peculiar temperament of his body, or the affections of his mind, his natural appetites, passions, disposition or temper. So of irrational animals.
4. The established or regular course of things; as when we say, an event is not according to nature, or it is out of the order of nature.
5. A law or principle of action or motion in a natural body. A stone by nature falls, or inclines to fall.
6. Constitution aggregate powers of a body, especially a living one. We say, nature is strong or weak; nature is almost exhausted.
7. The constitution and appearances of things.
The works, whether of poets, painters, moralists or historians, which are built upon general nature, live forever.
8. Natural affection or reverence.
Have we not seen, the murdering son ascend his parents bed through violated nature force his way?
9. System of created things.
He binding nature fast in fate, Left conscience free and will.
10. Sort; species; kind; particular character.
A dispute of this nature caused mischief to a king and an archbishop.
11. Sentiments r images conformed to nature, or to truth and reality.
Only nature can please those tastes which are unprejudiced and refined.
12. Birth. No man is noble by nature.
NATURE, v.t. To endow with natural qualities. [Not in use]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized; "it is the nature of fire to burn"; "the true nature of jealousy"
2: a causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe; "the laws of nature"; "nature has seen to it that men are stronger than women"
3: the natural physical world including plants and animals and landscapes etc.; "they tried to preserve nature as they found it"
4: the complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions; "it is his nature to help others"
5: a particular type of thing; "problems of this type are very difficult to solve"; "he's interested in trains and things of that nature"; "matters of a personal nature"

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin natura, from natus, past participle of nasci to be born — more at nation Date: 14th century 1. a. the inherent character or basic constitution of a person or thing ; essence b. disposition, temperament 2. a. a creative and controlling force in the universe b. an inner force or the sum of such forces in an individual 3. a kind or class usually distinguished by fundamental or essential characteristics <documents of a confidential nature> <acts of a ceremonial nature> 4. the physical constitution or drives of an organism; especially an excretory organ or function — used in phrases like the call of nature 5. a spontaneous attitude (as of generosity) 6. the external world in its entirety 7. a. humankind's original or natural condition b. a simplified mode of life resembling this condition 8. the genetically controlled qualities of an organism 9. natural scenery Synonyms: see type

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a thing's or person's innate or essential qualities or character (not in their nature to be cruel; is the nature of iron to rust). 2 (often Nature) a the physical power causing all the phenomena of the material world (Nature is the best physician). b these phenomena, including plants, animals, landscape, etc. (nature gives him comfort). 3 a kind, sort, or class (things of this nature). 4 = human nature. 5 a a specified element of human character (the rational nature; our animal nature). b a person of a specified character (even strong natures quail). 6 a an uncultivated or wild area, condition, community, etc. b the countryside, esp. when picturesque. 7 inherent impulses determining character or action. 8 heredity as an influence on or determinant of personality (opp. NURTURE). 9 a living thing's vital functions or needs (such a diet will not support nature). Phrases and idioms: against nature unnatural; immoral. against (or contrary to) nature miraculous; miraculously. back to nature returning to a pre-civilized or natural state. by nature innately. from nature Art using natural objects as models. human nature general human characteristics, feelings, etc. in nature 1 actually existing. 2 anywhere; at all. in (or of) the nature of characteristically resembling or belonging to the class of (the answer was in the nature of an excuse). in a state of nature 1 in an uncivilized or uncultivated state. 2 totally naked. 3 in an unregenerate state. law of nature = natural law 2. nature cure = NATUROPATHY. nature-printing a method of producing a print of leaves etc. by pressing them on a prepared plate. nature reserve a tract of land managed so as to preserve its flora, fauna, physical features, etc. nature study the practical study of plant and animal life etc. as a school subject. nature trail a signposted path through the countryside designed to draw attention to natural phenomena. Etymology: ME f. OF f. L natura f. nasci nat- be born

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Nature Na"ture, v. t. To endow with natural qualities. [Obs.] He [God] which natureth every kind. --Gower.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Nature Na"ture (?; 135), n. [F., fr. L. natura, fr. natus born, produced, p. p. of nasci to be born. See Nation.] 1. The existing system of things; the world of matter, or of matter and mind; the creation; the universe. But looks through nature up to nature's God. --Pope. Nature has caprices which art can not imitate. --Macaulay. 2. The personified sum and order of causes and effects; the powers which produce existing phenomena, whether in the total or in detail; the agencies which carry on the processes of creation or of being; -- often conceived of as a single and separate entity, embodying the total of all finite agencies and forces as disconnected from a creating or ordering intelligence. I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit Such disproportions. --Milton. 3. The established or regular course of things; usual order of events; connection of cause and effect. 4. Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artifical, or forced, or remote from actual experience. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. --Shak. 5. The sum of qualities and attributes which make a person or thing what it is, as distinct from others; native character; inherent or essential qualities or attributes; peculiar constitution or quality of being. Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, Their nature also to thy nature join, And be thyself man among men on earth. --Milton. 6. Hence: Kind, sort; character; quality. A dispute of this nature caused mischief. --Dryden. 7. Physical constitution or existence; the vital powers; the natural life. ``My days of nature.'' --Shak. Oppressed nature sleeps. --Shak. 8. Natural affection or reverence. Have we not seen The murdering son ascend his parent's bed, Through violated nature foce his way? --Pope. 9. Constitution or quality of mind or character. A born devil, on whose nature Nurture can never stick. --Shak. That reverence which is due to a superior nature. --Addison. Good nature, Ill nature. see under Good and Ill. In a state of nature. (a) Naked as when born; nude. (b) In a condition of sin; unregenerate. (c) Untamed; uncvilized. Nature printng, a process of printing from metallic or other plates which have received an impression, as by heavy pressure, of an object such as a leaf, lace, or the like. Nature worship, the worship of the personified powers of nature. To pay the debt of nature, to die.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(natures) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. Nature is all the animals, plants, and other things in the world that are not made by people, and all the events and processes that are not caused by people. ...grasses that grow wild in nature. ...the ecological balance of nature. N-UNCOUNT see also Mother Nature 2. The nature of something is its basic quality or character. Mr Sharp would not comment on the nature of the issues being investigated. ...the ambitious nature of the programme... The rise of a major power is both economic and military in nature. N-SING: with supp, oft n N, also by/in N 3. Someone's nature is their character, which they show by the way they behave. Jeya feels that her ambitious nature made her unsuitable for an arranged marriage... She trusted people. That was her nature... He was by nature affectionate. N-SING: with poss, also by N see also human nature 4. If you want to get back to nature, you want to return to a simpler way of living. She was very anxious to get away from cities and back to nature. PHRASE: PHR after v 5. If you say that something has a particular characteristic by its nature or by its very nature, you mean that things of that type always have that characteristic. Peacekeeping, by its nature, makes pre-planning difficult... One could argue that smoking, by its very nature, is addictive. PHRASE: N inflects, PHR with cl 6. Some people talk about a call of nature when referring politely to the need to go to the toilet. I'm afraid I have to answer a call of nature. PHRASE: PHR after v [politeness] 7. If you say that something is in the nature of things, you mean that you would expect it to happen in the circumstances mentioned. Many have already died, and in the nature of things many more will die. PHRASE: PHR with cl 8. If you say that one thing is in the nature of another, you mean that it is like the other thing. It was in the nature of a debate rather than an argument. PHRASE: PHR n, usu v-link PHR 9. If a way of behaving is second nature to you, you do it almost without thinking because it is easy for you or obvious to you. Planning ahead had always come as second nature to her... It's not easy at first, but it soon becomes second nature. PHRASE: v-link PHR, oft PHR to n

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See NATURAL, NATURE.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. World, creation, universe, system of created things, aggregate of phenomena, world of matter and of mind, sum of causes and effects. 2. Sum total of sensible objects, world of matter. 3. Character, essence, constitution, quality, sum of attributes. 4. Kind, sort, species, quality, character. 5. Temper, disposition, humor, mood, grain. 6. Mind, intelligence, intelligent being, intellect. 7. Active principle of the universe, soul of the Universe, God, Creator, Author. 8. Regular course of things, usual or established order of events, normal association. 9. What is natural, conformity with nature, accordance with truth or reality. 10. Vitality, human life, vital powers of a man. 11. Natural affection, reverence. 12. Natural condition, nakedness.

Foolish Dictionary

The author of "The Seasons," an interesting work over which Spring pours, Summer smiles, and Autumn turns the leaves while Winter catches the drift of it all.

Moby Thesaurus

Copernican universe, Einsteinian universe, Newtonian universe, Ptolemaic universe, air, all, all being, all creation, allness, anatomy, animus, aptitude, aroma, artlessness, atom, atomic particles, attribute, attributes, badge, being, bent, bias, blood, body-build, brand, breed, brute matter, building block, by nature, cachet, cast, category, character, characteristic, characteristics, chemical element, clan, class, color, complexion, component, composition, configuration, conformation, constituent, constituents, constitution, cosmos, countryside, crasis, created nature, created universe, creation, cut, denomination, description, designation, dharma, diathesis, differentia, differential, disposition, distinctive feature, earmark, earth, eccentricity, element, elementary particle, elementary unit, environment, essence, essentiality, ethos, everything that is, expanding universe, feather, feature, features, fiber, figure, fire, flavor, form, frame, framework, fundamental particle, genius, genre, genuineness, genus, grain, gust, habit, hallmark, hue, humor, humors, hyle, hypostasis, identity, idiocrasy, idiosyncrasy, ilk, impress, impression, inartificiality, inclination, index, individualism, individuality, intactness, keynote, kidney, kin, kind, label, leaning, line, lineaments, lot, macrocosm, macrocosmos, make, makeup, manner, mannerism, mark, marking, material, material world, materiality, matter, megacosm, mental set, metagalaxy, mettle, mind, mind-set, mold, molecule, monad, mould, natural man, natural state, natural world, naturalism, naturally, naturalness, number, odor, omneity, particularity, peculiarity, personality, persuasion, phylum, physical world, physique, plenum, predilection, predisposition, preference, primitiveness, pristineness, proclivity, propensity, properties, property, pulsating universe, quality, quirk, race, savor, scenery, seal, set, shape, sidereal universe, simplicity, singularity, slant, smack, somatotype, sort, specialty, species, spirit, stamp, state of nature, steady-state universe, strain, streak, stripe, structure, stuff, style, substance, substratum, suchness, sum of things, system, taint, tang, taste, temper, temperament, tendency, tenor, texture, the four elements, the like of, the likes of, token, tone, totality, totality of being, trait, tribe, trick, turn, turn of mind, twist, type, unaffectation, unaffectedness, unartificialness, unassumingness, undisguise, unit of being, universe, unpretentiousness, unspoiledness, variety, vein, virginity, warp, water, way, whole wide world, wide world, wildness, world, world without end