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native definition

na·tive (nātiv)

adjective

  1. inborn or innate rather than acquired
  2. belonging to a locality or country by birth, production, or growth; indigenous a native Bostonian, native industry, native plants
  3. related to one as, or in connection with, the place of one's birth or origin one's native land, one's native language
  4. simple; natural; free from affectation
  5. as found in nature; natural and not refined, adorned, or altered by man
  6. occurring in a pure state in nature native gold
  7. of or characteristic of the natives, or indigenous inhabitants, of a place
  8. Native American Native land rights

Etymology: ME natyf < MFr natif < L nativus < natus, born: see nature

noun

  1. a person born in the place or country indicated
    1. an original or indigenous inhabitant of a region, as distinguished from an invader, explorer, colonist, etc.
    2. an indigenous plant or animal
  2. a permanent resident, as distinguished from a temporary resident or visitor

Related Forms:

native Idioms

go native

to adopt the mode of life, often one less complicated, of the native inhabitants

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