nature

noun

(uncountable, often capitalized) The way things are, the totality of all things in the physical universe and their order, especially the physical world in contrast to spiritual realms and flora and fauna as distinct from human conventions, art, and technology.

The essential or innate characteristics of a person or thing which will always tend to manifest, especially in contrast to specific contexts, reason, religious duty, upbringing, and personal pretense or effort.

The particular way someone or something is, especially

The distinguishing characteristic of a person or thing, understood as its general class, sort, type, etc.

The vital functions or strength of someone or something, especially (now dialect) as requiring nourishment or careful maintenance or (medicine) as a force of regeneration without special treatment.

A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especially

The need to urinate and defecate.

(now chiefly African-American Vernacular) Sexual desire.

(now chiefly UK regional and African-American Vernacular) Spontaneous love, affection, or reverence, especially between parent and child.

The sum of natural forces reified and considered as a sentient being, will, or principle.

(now rare) A product of the body's physical form, especially semen and vaginal fluids, menstrual fluid, and (obsolete) feces.

(now rare) A part of the body's physical form, especially (obsolete) the female genitalia.

(UK military, obsolete) Synonym of caliber: the class of a gun.

verb

(obsolete) To endow with natural qualities.

Roots

nascornat- · Latin · be born

Synonyms for nature

naturalnessn dispositionn wildnessn characteristicsn temperamentn essencen unaffectednessn kindn

Synonyms & related words for nature

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Words related to nature

Explore words related to nature — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include natural, somatology, wildlife, subternatural, inherent, innately, inherently, sacramentality. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for nature

Common synonyms for nature include naturalness, disposition, wildness, characteristics, temperament, essence, unaffectedness, kind — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does nature come from?

The word nature breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root nat-, from Latin nascor (“be born”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.