naturena‧ture /ˈneɪtʃə $ -tʃər/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 
We grew up in the countryside, surrounded by the beauties of nature. nature conservationthe laws/forces of nature The inhabitants of the island fight a constant battle against the forces of nature.in nature All these materials are found in nature. Disease is nature’s way of keeping the population down.GRAMMARDon’t say ‘the nature’ in this meaning. You say: · the power of nature ✗Don’t say: the power of the natureGrammar guide ‒ NOUNS2somebody’s character [countable, uncountable] someone’s character: a child with a happy, easy-going naturesomebody’s nature It’s just not in Jane’s nature to lie.by nature She was by nature a very affectionate person. I tried appealing to his better nature (=his feelings of kindness) but he wouldn’t agree to help us. Of course she’s jealous – it’s only human nature (=the feelings and ways of behaving that all people have).3qualities of something [singular, uncountable] the qualities or features that something hasnature of They asked a lot of questions about the nature of our democracy. He examined the nature of the relationship between the two communities.exact/precise/true nature The exact nature of the problem is not well understood.different/political/temporary etc in nature Any government funding would be temporary in nature. Capitalist society is by its very nature unstable.4type [singular] a particular kind of thingof a personal/political/difficult etc nature The support being given is of a practical nature.of this/that nature I never trouble myself with questions of that nature.5in the nature of things according to the natural way things happen: In the nature of things, there is bound to be the occasional accident.6be in the nature of something formal to be similar to a type of thing: The enquiry will be more in the nature of a public meeting than a formal hearing.7against nature not natural, and morally wrong: They believe that suicide is against nature.8let nature take its course to allow events to happen without doing anything to change the results: The best cure for a cold is to let nature take its course.9back to nature a style of living in which people try to live simply and not use modern machines: city workers who want to get back to nature in their holidays → be/become second nature (to somebody) at second1(10), → the call of nature at call2(12)
WORD ORIGINnature
Origin:
1200-1300 French, Latin natura, from natus; ➔ NATIONEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Being distrustful had become a part of her nature.
- books of an erotic nature
- Children at this age commonly refer to being eaten up by tigers and lions and things of that nature.
- Computers, by their nature, tend to change the way offices are organized.
- I've always been a nature lover.
- I am not by nature a violent man, but these insults were more than I could bear.
- It's in the nature of elections that campaigning sometimes gets quite tough.
- It was not in his nature to take risks.
- Kindness and sympathy were in his nature.
- Monnens spends his days explaining the nature of Internet advertising to clients.
- My girlfriend has a rather unforgiving nature so I don't think that I'll tell her.
- On the plains the farmers have to deal with frequent floods, but up in the hills their problems are of a different nature.
- She's generous by nature.
- She was surprised to learn he had a romantic side to his nature.
- The cruise was to be in the nature of a "rest cure".
- The doctor admitted that he didn't yet understand the nature of Julie's illness.
- the laws of nature
- The support being given is primarily of a practical nature.
- But one can not be specific about the number of questions without knowing the nature of the project topic.
- He has a serious nature and his powers of concentration are a boon when it comes to his gruelling training schedule.
- Out of acorns, nature makes a machine that provides a luxurious home for people, animals, and plants.
- The arrival of man-made instruments represented the supplanting and indeed deliberate transcending of nature by human values.
- The choice of methods for a particular study will depend on the nature of the task and the resources available.
- Though this is impossible to us as humans, nature does it all the time.
- Thus it is very important to read the instructions carefully when using programmes of this nature.
Longman Language Activatorsomeone's character
the combination of qualities that makes someone a particular kind of person, for example a good or bad, honest or dishonest person: · Her behavior last night revealed a lot about her character.· A candidate's character and qualifications are more important than past experience.· What strikes me most about Hamlet is his noble character.
someone's character - use this especially about how someone behaves towards other people, for example whether they are friendly or unfriendly, confident or easily frightened etc: · It's true he can be emotional at times but that's just part of his personality.· This election should be about issues and policies, not about the personalities of the candidates!friendly/nice/warm etc personality: · Yun has a lovely, warm personality.
someone's character - use this especially to say whether someone is naturally good or bad, gentle or severe etc: · Kindness and sympathy were in his nature.· My girlfriend has a rather unforgiving nature so I don't think that I'll tell her.· She was surprised to learn he had a romantic side to his nature.by nature (=use this when saying what someone's usual character is): · She's generous by nature.· I am not by nature a violent man, but these insults were more than I could bear.it's not in somebody's nature: · It was not in his nature to take risks.
the emotional part of someone's character, especially how likely they are to become angry, happy, sad etc: · His calm, quiet temperament made him popular with his colleagues.· My father and I got along very well, having very similar temperaments.the right temperament: · I'm not sure if she has the right temperament for the job.
formal a character that makes it likely that you will behave nervously, jealously etc: · This program may not be suitable for people with a nervous disposition.be of a nervous/jealous etc disposition: · He's considerate and sweet-tempered but of a very nervous disposition.have a nervous/jealous etc disposition: · Sue had a sunny disposition and a warm smile.
British /makeup American someone's character - use this especially to say that someone's character is completely fixed and they cannot change it or control it: · It's not in their make-up to accept defeat.· Her constant attempts to justify her actions tell the reader a lot about her emotional make-up.· This behaviour is part of our genetic make-up rather than our cultural conditioning.be part of somebody's make-up: · Stubbornness has always been a significant part of his makeup.
informal if you know what makes someone tick , you understand their character, desires, and what makes them behave in the way they do: · After working with him for five years, I still don't know what makes him tick.· As a teacher, you need to get to know your students, find out what makes them tick.
the character of something the combination of qualities that a particular kind of place, thing etc has: the character of: · The whole character of the school had changed.· We'll find out about the true character of this team after these next few games.character: · Marx's view of society stressed its dynamic character.in character: · Liquids are different in character from both solids and gases.
the true character of something, which you must understand in order to know what it is really like: the nature of: · The doctor admitted that he didn't yet understand the nature of Julie's illness.· Monnens spends his days explaining the nature of Internet advertising to clients.by its nature (=because of its nature): · Computers, by their nature, tend to change the way offices are organized.be in the nature of something (=be a permanent part of its nature): · It's in the nature of elections that campaigning sometimes gets quite tough.
the most basic and important quality of something that make it different from anything else: the essence of: · This is the essence of the problem, as I see it.· The movie brilliantly captures the essence of Calcutta's street life.· Sharing is the essence of friendship.in essence (=most importantly): · His speech was, in essence, a plea for understanding and conciliation.
normal behaviour or feelings if a person is normal , there is nothing strange about them, and they are mentally and physically healthy: · Any normal boy of his age would be interested in football.· Her breathing was normal, but she had a very high temperature.it is normal (for somebody) to do something: · It is quite normal for children to be afraid of the dark.· When you start a new job, it's normal to feel somewhat overwhelmed.perfectly normal (=completely normal): · They seemed like a perfectly normal family.
feelings that are natural are what you would normally expect in a particular situation, so there is no need to feel worried or embarrassed about them: · Anger is a natural reaction when you lose someone you love.it is natural (for somebody) to do something: · I suppose it's natural for a mother to feel sad when her children leave home.· It isn't natural for a child to be so quiet.perfectly/quite natural (=completely natural): · It's perfectly natural to grieve for the loss of a pet.it's only natural spoken: · Of course Jean misses her boyfriend - it's only natural.it's only natural that: · It's only natural that people who spend a lot of time around computers either love them or hate them.
conventional people, behaviour, and opinions are the kind that most people in society think are normal and socially acceptable, although some people think they are boring and old-fashioned: · My mother was very conventional - she didn't approve of my hippie lifestyle.· a young man with conventional tastes in clothes and musicconventional wisdom (=the opinion that most people consider to be normal and right): · Conventional wisdom holds that more money for education means better schools for children.
spoken use this to say that is it normal for people to want to do something: · It's human nature to want what we don't have.
a type of person or thing a group of things or people that are similar to each other in some way, or a thing or person that belongs to such a group. Kind and sort are more common than type in spoken English. Use type when you are talking about technical subjects or when you are describing something in an exact way: · I'll get you some ice-cream. What kind would you like?type/kind/sort of: · The floor was made of three different types of wood.· What sort of fish is this?· "What type of music do you like?" "Mainly dance music and some indie."· She's the kind of person you can always rely on.· There are two sorts of politician - the ones who really want to help people, and the ones who just want power.of this/that type etc: · Accidents of this type are extremely common.· It's a club for writers and actors and people of that sort.of various/many/different types etc: · They export farming machinery and tools of various kinds.
a particular type of building, art, literature, music etc: · The new library is a blend of various architectural styles.style of: · a completely new style of painting
a group that people or things of the same type are divided into for a particular purpose - use this when there are several groups and there is a clear system for deciding which group something belongs to: · Emma Thompson won an Oscar in the Best Actress category.· The novels are divided up into three categories: historical, romantic, and crime.category of: · Insurance companies identify six main categories of driver.
a number of people or things that are considered as being of the same group because they have the same physical features, qualities etc: class of: · French is one of a class of languages known as the Romance languages.· Doctors are reluctant to prescribe a new class of drugs, especially ones which need to be taken for long periods of time.
a type of thing that is different from another similar type: variety of: · The French make many varieties of cheese, from both cows' and goats' milk.· At that time, all newsreaders spoke a variety of English spoken in southern England, known as Received Pronunciation.
formal a type of literature, film, or work of art: · Science fiction as a genre is relatively new.· Italian filmmakers made their own versions of the classic Hollywood genres - the western, the gangster film, the musical.
a form of something is one type of it of all the ones that are possible: form of: · Melanoma is a form of skin cancer.· Britain has a constitutional form of government.· Sugar in chocolate and other forms of confectionery is one of the major causes of tooth decay.
a particular type of thing: of a political/historical/technical/scientific/sexual nature : · The support being given is primarily of a practical nature.· books of an erotic natureof a different/similar nature: · On the plains the farmers have to deal with frequent floods, but up in the hills their problems are of a different nature. of that nature: · Children at this age commonly refer to being eaten up by tigers and lions and things of that nature.be in the nature of something (=to be like something): · The cruise was to be in the nature of a "rest cure".
of that type, his type etc - use this especially about types that you do not like or respect: · Environmentalists, feminists, and others of that ilk regularly try to drive shows like this off the air.· Desserts ($5) were of the tiramisu, crème brûlée, chocolate torte ilk.
especially spoken of the type that you have just been talking about: · The children need new pens and pencils and things like that.· People like that really annoy me.· I'm not sure what to do. I've never been in a situation like this before.
WORD SETSaerobic, adjectiveafterbirth, nounalgae, nounalimentary canal, nounamber, nounameba, nounamino acid, nounamoeba, nounanaconda, nounanaerobic, adjectiveandrogynous, adjectiveantibody, nounantigen, nounantitoxin, nounappendage, nounarm, nounarmour, nounasexual, adjectiveassimilation, nounatrophy, verbaviary, nounbacteria, nounbacteriology, nounbarnacle, nounbile, nounbinocular vision, nounbio-, prefixbiochemistry, nounbiodegradable, adjectivebiodiversity, nounbiohazard, nounbiological, adjectivebiological clock, nounbiology, nounbiomass, nounbiome, nounbiosphere, nounblind, nounbrain, nounbreathe, verbbreed, verbbreed, nounbreeding, nounbristle, nounbulb, nouncapsule, nouncarbohydrate, nouncarbon dioxide, nouncarnivore, nouncell, nouncellular, adjectivecellulose, nouncentral nervous system, nouncervical, adjectivecholesterol, nounchromosome, nouncirculation, nouncirculatory, adjectiveclass, nounclone, nouncold-blooded, adjectiveconceive, verbconch, nounconnective tissue, nouncopulate, verbcoral reef, nouncornea, nouncoronary, adjectivecorpuscle, nouncortex, nouncortisone, nouncowrie, nouncrab, nouncrawfish, nouncrayfish, nouncreature, nouncross, verbcrossbreed, nounculture, nouncytoplasm, noundecay, verbdecay, noundecompose, verbdefecate, verbdenizen, noundextrose, noundiaphragm, noundigest, verbdigestion, noundigestive, adjectiveDNA, noundorsal, adjectivedry rot, nounduct, noundwarf, noundwarf, adjectiveecological, adjectiveecology, nounecosystem, nounegg, nounejaculate, verbembryo, nounembryonic, adjectiveenzyme, nounepidermis, nounevolution, nounevolutionary, adjectiveexcrement, nounexcrescence, nounexcrete, verbexcretion, nounexhale, verbexoskeleton, nounextinction, nounfaeces, nounfamily, nounfang, nounfat, nounfatty acid, nounfauna, nounfeces, nounfeed, verbfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferment, verbferment, nounfertile, adjectivefertility, nounfertilize, verbfission, nounflank, nounflatulence, nounflesh, nounfleshy, adjectiveflightless, adjectiveflora, nounfoetal, adjectivefoetus, nounfoliage, nounfossil, nounfreak, nounfreshwater, adjectivefructose, noungamete, nounganglion, noungene, noungene pool, noungenera, genetic, adjectivegenetic code, noungenetic engineering, noungenetic fingerprinting, noungenetics, noungenome, noungenus, noungestation, noungland, nounglandular, adjectiveglucose, noungluten, noungonad, noungrass snake, noungrow, verbgrowth, nounhabitat, nounhaemoglobin, nounhearing, nounheart, nounhemisphere, nounherbivore, nounhereditary, adjectiveheredity, nounhermaphrodite, nounhibernate, verbhistamine, nounhoming, adjectivehormone, nounhost, nounimpregnate, verbimpulse, nounincubate, verbindigenous, adjectiveinfected, adjectiveinfertile, adjectiveinfest, verbingest, verbinhale, verbinseminate, verbinsensate, adjectiveinsulin, nounintegument, nounintercourse, nouninterferon, nounintestine, nouninvertebrate, nouninvoluntary, adjectiveiris, nounjaw, nounjelly, nounkidney, nounkrill, nounlactate, verblactation, nounlactic acid, nounleech, nounleg, nounlesser, adjectivelichen, nounlife, nounlife cycle, nounlife form, nounligament, nounlimb, nounlimpet, nounlipid, nounliver, nounliving fossil, nounlocomotion, nounlymph, nounlymph node, nounmale, adjectivemale, nounmammal, nounmandible, nounmate, nounmate, verbmembrane, nounmetabolism, nounmetabolize, verbmetamorphosis, nounmicrobe, nounmicrobiology, nounmicroorganism, nounmicroscopic, adjectivemigrate, verbmigratory, adjectivemiscarriage, nounmolar, nounmorphology, nounmotor, adjectivemould, nounmouth, nounmucous membrane, nounmucus, nounmulticellular, adjectivemuscle, nounmuscular, adjectivemutant, nounmutate, verbmutation, nounnatural history, nounnatural selection, nounnature, nounneck, nounnectar, nounnerve, nounnervous, adjectivenervous system, nounneural, adjectiveneuro-, prefixneurology, nounnode, nounnose, nounnostril, nounnucleic acid, nounnucleus, nounnutrient, nounnutriment, nounoesophagus, nounoestrogen, nounolfactory, adjectiveoptic, adjectiveorgan, nounorganic, adjectiveorganic chemistry, nounorganism, nounorifice, nounossify, verbosteo-, prefixoutgrowth, nounova, ovary, nounoverwinter, verboviduct, nounoviparous, adjectiveovulate, verbovum, nounparasite, nounpathogen, nounpedigree, nounpelvic, adjectivepelvis, nounpenile, adjectivepenis, nounpepsin, nounperiod, nounperspiration, nounperspire, verbphotosynthesis, nounphylum, nounpigment, nounpigmentation, nounplankton, nounplasma, nounpollinate, verbpostnatal, adjectivepregnancy, nounpregnant, adjectivepremature, adjectiveprenatal, adjectiveproduct, nounproliferation, nounpropagate, verbprotein, nounprotoplasm, nounprotozoan, nounpuberty, nounpulmonary, adjectivepulp, nounpulsation, nounputrefy, verbputrid, adjectivered blood cell, nounregurgitate, verbrenal, adjectivereproduce, verbreproduction, nounreproductive, adjectiverespiration, nounrespiratory, adjectiverespire, verbretina, nounroot, nounrot, verbrot, nounruff, nounsac, nounsaliva, nounsalivary gland, nounsalivate, verbsaltwater, adjectivescale, nounscallop, nounscaly, adjectivesebaceous, adjectivesecrete, verbsecretion, nounsemen, nounsense organ, nounsensory, adjectiveserum, nounsex, nounsex, verbsexless, adjectivesexual intercourse, nounsheath, nounshell, nounsibling, nounskeletal, adjectiveskeleton, nounskin, nounskull, nounspasm, nounspasmodic, adjectivespecies, nounspecimen, nounsperm, nounspiderweb, nounspinal cord, nounspine, nounspineless, adjectivestarch, nounstem cell, nounstimulate, verbstimulus, nounstrain, nounsubject, nounsubspecies, nounsucker, nounsucrose, nounsweat, verbsweat, nounsweat gland, nounsymbiosis, nounsystemic, adjectivetail, nountaxonomy, nounteeth, testosterone, nountest-tube baby, nountissue, nountrachea, nountube, noununicellular, adjectiveurethra, nounuric, adjectiveurinate, verburine, nounvariety, nounvector, nounvein, nounvenom, nounvenomous, adjectiveventricle, nounvertebra, nounvertebrate, nounvivisection, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewean, verbwildlife, nounwindpipe, nounyolk, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The inhabitants of the island fight a constant battle against the forces of nature. Disease is nature’s way of keeping the population down. It’s just not in Jane’s nature to lie. I tried appealing to his better nature (=his feelings of kindness) but he wouldn’t agree to help us. Of course she’s jealous – it’s only human nature (=the feelings and ways of behaving that all people have). The exact nature of the problem is not well understood. Any government funding would be temporary in nature. Capitalist society is by its very nature unstable. The support being given is of a practical nature. I never trouble myself with questions of that nature. city workers who want to get back to nature in their holidaysCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Aggression is completely foreign to his nature. There is nothing in the intrinsic nature of the work that makes it more suitable for women. She felt as she always did in these mountains: peaceful, without care, at one with nature.
The inhabitants of the island fight a constant battle against the forces of nature. Disease is nature’s way of keeping the population down. It’s just not in Jane’s nature to lie. I tried appealing to his better nature (=his feelings of kindness) but he wouldn’t agree to help us. Of course she’s jealous – it’s only human nature (=the feelings and ways of behaving that all people have). The exact nature of the problem is not well understood. Any government funding would be temporary in nature. Capitalist society is by its very nature unstable. The support being given is of a practical nature. I never trouble myself with questions of that nature. city workers who want to get back to nature in their holidays· Nothing can justify permanent damage to the balance of nature.
· a government adviser on nature conservation
· The report was kept secret because of its controversial nature.
· The essential nature of stem cells is that they are the source of all other cells in the body.
(=the very unusual qualities or features that something has)· In view of the exceptional nature of your crime, this court sentences you to a minimum of twenty years.
Aggression is completely foreign to his nature. There is nothing in the intrinsic nature of the work that makes it more suitable for women. She felt as she always did in these mountains: peaceful, without care, at one with nature.· The prisoners are encouraged to confront the true nature of their crimes.
· As a travel writer, the very nature of his job meant that he travelled a lot.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Under different situations in nature Azolla is regarded to be an undesirable weed or a very beneficial plant.· But it is different in nature.· Out on the high plains, the problem is of a different nature.· But the attention paid to it was of a completely different nature to that accorded to male blood.· Because human nature is different from chimp nature.· He is a poet of a different nature.· We had problems with spirits of a different nature the night Oliver Reed joined us.
· Mystery still surrounds the exact nature of the accident.· Starr would not comment on the exact nature of the new evidence, which Howard now holds under seal.· Awareness of the exact nature of her surroundings was alarming.· He took on several enterprises, but their exact nature was always obscure and there were no evident profits.· There would be time to work out the exact nature of its functioning later.· What was the exact nature of the social and political elite that dominated state and society at this time?· By clarifying in your own mind the exact nature of these positions you can enter into bargaining with much greater confidence.· He had remembered the story even if he had forgotten the exact nature of the secret signal.
· Unlike many other societies, including our own, Chewong ideas about human nature are truly applicable to both sexes.· Conservatism makes few assumptions about human nature.· I wonder at the lack of knowledge of human nature shown by some judges.· And that aspect of human nature does not evaporate just because people are part of the same organization.· Part of the problem of having a broken human nature is that we easily deceive ourselves.· When we do, an extraordinary insight into human nature will emerge.· Wrestling with nature - and human nature - was the prime thing.· In general, one claim underpinning the human nature approach seems reasonable-we are not merely the product of our environment.
· The answer depends upon the precise nature of price rigidity.· The man was obviously enjoying himself, but the precise nature of that pleasure eluded Quinn.· It will be appreciated that the precise nature of the degree or defect in acuity or field of vision is highly individual.· What is the precise nature of the school goals?· What is its precise nature and why is it before this court?· Doubts have been raised concerning the precise nature of Salmon's religious identity and experiences, but the salient details are unproblematic.· The precise nature of this scheme varies from one company to another.· Keynes's later scepticism on the precise nature of this connection seems to have been amply justified.
· There the prisoners are encouraged to confront the true nature of their crimes and themselves.· This is the true nature of democracy and of all distributed governance.· However, the true condition and nature of an object can only really be judged by physically checking it.· Even worse was the fact that very few government officials appeared to be aware of the true nature of the missions.· Fistula formation - for example to the trachea - may then be the first sign of the true nature of the disease.· But the attacks often distort the true nature of a candidate.· What is certainly true is that nature is not as straight forward as we like to suppose.
· Because of the very nature of desktop publishing this should come as no surprise.· The very nature of the service dictates that every advice worker must be kept up to date both with changing legislation and with skills.· It goes against the very nature of man today.· It was a technique which by its very nature was unsuited for use from the front opposition bench.· The very nature of their mouths says so. paradoxically, however, surface feeding is part of their nature too.· Several writers have emphasised the very stressful nature of the parachute training at Ringway.· In other words, desires are authentically related to our very nature as human beings.· Gameplay is naturally limited because of the very nature of the type of game.
NOUN· There have been gains for nature conservation in that the storms have prompted a fundamental questioning of the received view.· The designation is a form of landscape protection only and has little value in nature conservation terms.· On the whole, I feel optimistic about the future of nature conservation because so many people are involved now.· It has also drastically altered landscapes and reduced the nature conservation interest associated with the former small fields and hedges or banks.· A knowledge of, and a commitment to, nature conservation in Northern Ireland is essential.· The open countryside will be protected, but recreation and nature conservation will be encouraged.
· Julie Godwin, who was thirty, was sunbathing at a nature reserve when she was killed.· Julie was cut down beneath a nearby tree on the beautiful nature reserve 220 miles north of Durban.· Care would be taken not to harm the environment in the nature reserve there, which was designated a world heritage area.· The new nature reserve will be the area of Middlesbrough and more than seven times the size of Hyde Park.· There are about 150,000 acres of natural space left, but only 50,000 acres are protected by a nature reserve.· In the area too is the Noar Hill nature reserve, on land where chalk was once dug.· Thankfully it's now a nature reserve, which has the added advantage of offering free access during the stalking season.· In 1910, the Hon Charles Rothschild purchased 138 hectares of this fenland fragment and declared it a nature reserve.
· There is a one and a half mile circular nature trail around the reserve, which is definitely worth doing.· The rerouted nature trail offers three new vistas from about 150 feet above river level.· Eight miles away you can visit the Oakwell Country Park with 87 acres of parkland, nature trails and bridleways.· The sludge in the Cuisinart fills the condo with smells I remember from nature trails of my childhood.· There will be no polecat with young at post number seven on the nature trail.· Untouched for thirty years, ideal for a nature trail - the undisturbed habitat of birds and animals.· There is a hide and a nature trail which is always open.· Parish nature trails were also mentioned and Miss Bellamy said that it was possible to obtain grants towards producing leaflets.
VERB· In Chapter 2 we concentrate on the changing nature of the public monument.· The contract in many ways represents the changing nature of overseas military operations.· I have no wish to change my nature over this matter and become a crusading journalist.· In addition, any classification is time specific, because evolutionary and revolutionary processes can change the nature of a political system.· How that might change his nature, there's the question.· The fourth stage recognizes the changing nature of the networking marketplace.· All that has changed is the nature and volume of data, and the way it is created and accessed.· Affective experiences, such as feeling, are represented and remembered, changing for ever the nature of affective thoughts.
· There are different forms of the request available from the county court depending upon the nature of the action.· The time required to collect data may be only a few days or several months depending on the nature of the problem.· It goes without saying that everything depends on the nature of the piece of music to be scored.· Chimps go from small feeding bands to big groups depending on the nature of the food supply.· The answer depends upon the precise nature of price rigidity.· As to the duration of the restrictions, what constitutes a reasonable period depends largely on the nature of the business sold.· The amount of encoding in a header will depend both on the nature and the intended use of the text.· The kind of institution that can best provide the protection depends on the nature of the transaction, an issue discussed later.
· Even physics does not understand the nature of an electron and electrical charge.· One can understand why a cheerful nature is important.· What we need is managerial hierarchy that understands its own nature and purpose.· He very likely does not understand the nature of the risk that he describes.· How then could we ever understand the nature and functioning of the whole belt?· She understood human nature, which is the essence of politics.· They did not understand the nature of honour or how to win glory in battle.· This is highly significant for understanding the nature of his perceived relationship to his government.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► against naturePHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► appeal to somebody’s better nature/sense of justice etc
- Just relax and let nature take its course.
- With a cold, it's better to just let nature take its course.
- I meant that, in the case of any other industry, we probably would have let nature take its course.
- I think we should let nature take its course.
- Should I just let nature take its course or stop it now?
- Stay calm and let nature take its course.
- The best is to obtain juveniles from a number of sources, rear them together and let nature take its course.
- He longed to explore, to take the wild adventure of going completely back to nature.
- Such language glances back to nature worship.
- When people talk of going back to nature, do they really know what they are asking for?
- In the nature of things, a shrinking economy means less job security.
- Anyhow, something dreadful in the way of retribution had occurred, in the nature of things.
- But, in the nature of things, old people spend much more time indoors.
- Disputes over authorship are fiercely fought, and in the nature of things, frequently impossible to resolve with finality.
- His extraordinary revenue came, in the nature of things, in irregular bursts, mostly concentrated in his first ten years.
- It was in the nature of things, for time and tide would wait for no man.
- That is in the nature of things.
- As you said, it is in the nature of young men to be foolhardy and impetuous.
- But she knew Ellen would write and that the letter would be in the nature of both a declaration and a justification.
- It is in the nature of Forester's aim that he does not.
- It is in the nature of the law, however, to be couched in abstract terms.
- It was in the nature of love that John Wade went to the war.
- It was in the nature of things, for time and tide would wait for no man.
- It was in the nature of things.
- It would be in the nature of a liaison visit.
- It was the call of nature.
- Old Rottweilers may need to be let out more frequently to answer the call of nature, but for shorter periods.
- Can you spare as little as half an hour each day to unwind or to commune with nature?
- Instead of living, the church peddled dogmas; instead of communing with nature, it recited lifeless history.
- When this happened, one left him alone to commune with nature or whatever it was he wished to do.
- It's human nature to put off doing things you don't like to do.
- But it's human nature that people-male or female-will do what they are allowed to get away with.
- Typing becomes second nature after a while.
- But the main reason for my silence was that secrecy and deception had by then become second nature to me.
- By the time you die, you should be so used to paying taxes that it would almost be second nature anyway.
- Gradually those qualities become second nature.
- If one is well grounded in youth, the object of love and sound toilet training, these things become second nature.
- Management by objective was becoming second nature in the West Wing.
- Pay close attention to the sweep pattern and strokes, and this will eventually become second nature.
- Practice breathing in this way for twenty minutes each day until it becomes second nature.
- The strange and difficult was becoming second nature in the way that it had when I'd learned to fly.
- Nobody expects you to reveal the secrets of the universe, only produce a well-written story.
- We cease trying vainly to understand the secrets of the Universe as we have hitherto tried to do.
WORD FAMILYnounnaturenaturalistnaturalismnaturalizationnaturalnessthe supernaturalnaturalnaturistnaturismadjectivenatural ≠ unnaturalsupernaturalnaturalisticadverbnaturally ≠ unnaturallynaturalisticallysupernaturallyverbnaturalize
1plants/animals etc [uncountable] (also Nature) everything in the physical world that is not controlled by humans, such as wild plants and animals, earth and rocks, and the weather: We grew up in the countryside, surrounded by the beauties of nature. nature conservationthe laws/forces of nature The inhabitants of the island fight a constant battle against the forces of nature.in nature All these materials are found in nature. Disease is nature’s way of keeping the population down.GRAMMARDon’t say ‘the nature’ in this meaning. You say: · the power of nature ✗Don’t say: the power of the natureGrammar guide ‒ NOUNS2somebody’s character [countable, uncountable] someone’s character: a child with a happy, easy-going naturesomebody’s nature It’s just not in Jane’s nature to lie.by nature She was by nature a very affectionate person. I tried appealing to his better nature (=his feelings of kindness) but he wouldn’t agree to help us. Of course she’s jealous – it’s only human nature (=the feelings and ways of behaving that all people have).3qualities of something [singular, uncountable] the qualities or features that something hasnature of They asked a lot of questions about the nature of our democracy. He examined the nature of the relationship between the two communities.exact/precise/true nature The exact nature of the problem is not well understood.different/political/temporary etc in nature Any government funding would be temporary in nature. Capitalist society is by its very nature unstable.4type [singular] a particular kind of thingof a personal/political/difficult etc nature The support being given is of a practical nature.of this/that nature I never trouble myself with questions of that nature.5in the nature of things according to the natural way things happen: In the nature of things, there is bound to be the occasional accident.6be in the nature of something formal to be similar to a type of thing: The enquiry will be more in the nature of a public meeting than a formal hearing.7against nature not natural, and morally wrong: They believe that suicide is against nature.8let nature take its course to allow events to happen without doing anything to change the results: The best cure for a cold is to let nature take its course.9back to nature a style of living in which people try to live simply and not use modern machines: city workers who want to get back to nature in their holidays → be/become second nature (to somebody) at second1(10), → the call of nature at call2(12)