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natural definition

natu·ral (nac̸h′ər əl, nac̸h′rəl)

adjective

of or arising from nature; in accordance with what is found or expected in nature
produced or existing in nature; not artificial or manufactured
dealing with nature as an object of study: a natural science
in a state provided by nature, without man-made changes; wild; uncultivated
of the real or physical world as distinguished from a spiritual, intellectual, or imaginary world
1. present by virtue of nature; innate; not acquired
2. having certain qualities, abilities, etc. innately: a natural comedian
innately felt to be right; based on instinctive moral feeling: natural rights
true to nature; lifelike: a natural likeness
normal or usual; in the ordinary course of events: a natural outcome
customarily expected or accepted: a natural courtesy
free from affectation or artificiality; at ease: a natural smile
without a legal relationship; specif.,
1. illegitimate: a natural child
2. relating biologically rather than by adoption: natural parents
with little or no processing, artificial ingredients or preservatives: natural food
off-white, light-beige, etc.
resulting from age, disease, etc. rather than an accident, violence, etc.: a natural death, death from natural causes
Biol. designating or of a system of classification based on complete structure and characteristics
Math.
1. designating or of an integer or any number referred to 1 as the base
2. designating or of an actual number as distinguished from its logarithm: a natural sine, cosine, etc.
Music
1. without flats or sharps, as the key of C major
2. modified in pitch by the sign (♮)
3. neither sharped nor flatted

Origin: OFr < L naturalis, by birth, according to nature

noun

a person without normal intelligence; fool; idiot
Informal a person who is or seems to be naturally expert
☆ Informal a thing that is, or promises to be, immediately successful
☆ Informal a winning roll of 7 or 11 on a first throw in craps
Music
1. a sign (♮) used to remove the effect of a preceding sharp or flat within the measure in which it occurs
  in full, natural sign
2. the note so changed
3. a white key on a piano

Related Forms:

naturalness nat′u·ral·ness noun

nat·u·ral (năchˈər-əl, năchˈrəl)

adjective

Present in or produced by nature: a natural pearl.
Of, relating to, or concerning nature: a natural environment.
Conforming to the usual or ordinary course of nature: a natural death.
a. Not acquired; inherent: Love of power is natural to some people.
b. Having a particular character by nature: a natural leader.
c. Biology Not produced or changed artificially; not conditioned: natural immunity; a natural reflex.
Characterized by spontaneity and freedom from artificiality, affectation, or inhibitions. See Synonyms at naive.
Not altered, treated, or disguised: natural coloring; natural produce.
Faithfully representing nature or life.
Expected and accepted: “In Willie's mind marriage remained the natural and logical sequence to love” (Duff Cooper).
Established by moral certainty or conviction: natural rights.
Being in a state regarded as primitive, uncivilized, or unregenerate.
a. Related by blood: the natural parents of the child.
b. Born of unwed parents: a natural child.
Mathematics Of or relating to positive integers, sometimes including zero.
Music
a. Not sharped or flatted.
b. Having no sharps or flats.

noun

a. One having all the qualifications necessary for success: You are a natural for this job.
b. One suited by nature for a certain purpose or function: She is a natural at mathematics.
Music
a. The sign (♮) placed before a note to cancel a preceding sharp or flat.
b. A note so affected.
A yellowish gray to pale orange yellow.
Games A combination in certain card and dice games that wins immediately.
An Afro hairstyle.

Origin: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin nātūrālis, from nātūra, nature; see nature .

Related Forms:

naturalness natˈu·ral·ness noun

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