na·ture (n??ch?r)n.1. a. The material world and its phenomena: scientists analyzing nature.b. The forces and processes that produce and control these phenomena: the balance of nature.2. The world of living things and the outdoors: spent the day enjoying nature.3. A primitive state of existence, untouched and uninfluenced by civilization or social constraints: when people lived in a state of nature.4. The basic character or qualities of humanity: It is only human nature to worry about the future.5. The fundamental character or disposition of a person; temperament: a man of an irascible nature. See Synonyms at disposition.6. The set of inherent characteristics or properties that distinguish something: trying to determine the nature of a newly discovered phenomenon.7. A kind or sort: confidences of a personal nature.8. a. The processes and functions of the body, as in healing: The doctor decided not to do anything and let nature take its course.b. Heredity: behavior more influenced by nature than nurture.[Middle English, essential properties of a thing, from Old French, from Latin n?t?ra, from n?tus, past participle of n?sc?, to be born; see gen?- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.nature (?ne?t??) n1. the fundamental qualities of a person or thing; identity or essential character2. (often capital, esp when personified) the whole system of the existence, arrangement, forces, and events of all physical life that are not controlled by man3. (Biology) all natural phenomena and plant and animal life, as distinct from man and his creations4. a wild primitive state untouched by man or civilization5. natural unspoilt scenery or countryside6. disposition or temperament7. tendencies, desires, or instincts governing behaviour8. the normal biological needs or urges of the body9. sort; kind; character10. the real appearance of a person or thing: a painting very true to nature. 11. accepted standards of basic morality or behaviour12. (Biology) biology the complement of genetic material that partly determines the structure of an organism; genotype. Compare nurture313. Irish sympathy and fondness for one’s own people or native place: she is full of nature. 14. against nature unnatural or immoral15. by nature essentially or innately16. call of nature informal euphemistic or jocular the need to urinate or defecate17. from nature using natural models in drawing, painting, etc18. in the nature of of the nature of essentially the same as; by way of[C13: via Old French from Latin n?t?ra, from n?tus, past participle of nasc? to be born]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014na?ture (?ne? t??r) n. 1. the natural world as it exists without human beings or civilization. 2. the elements of the natural world, as mountains, trees, animals, or rivers. 3. natural scenery. 4. the universe, with all its phenomena. 5. the particular combination of qualities belonging to a person, animal, thing, or class by birth, origin, or constitution; native or inherent character. 6. character, kind, or sort: two books of the same nature. 7. characteristic disposition; temperament: an evil nature. 8. the natural, primitive condition of humankind. 9. biological functions or urges. 10. the laws and principles that guide the universe or an individual. Idioms: by nature, as a result of inborn or inherent qualities; innately. [1200?50; Middle English natur(e)