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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
- present by virtue of nature; innate; not acquired
- 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.,
- illegitimate: a natural child
- 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.
- designating or of an integer or any number referred to 1 as the base
- designating or of an actual number as distinguished from its logarithm: a natural sine, cosine, etc.
- Music
- without flats or sharps, as the key of C major
- modified in pitch by the sign (♮)
- 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
- a sign (♮) used to remove the effect of a preceding sharp or flat within the measure in which it occursin full, natural sign
- the note so changed
- a white key on a piano
- a sign (♮) used to remove the effect of a preceding sharp or flat within the measure in which it occurs
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.
- 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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