| 释义 |
na·ture
I. \ˈnāchə(r)\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin natura, from natus, (past participle of nasci to be born) + -ura -ure — more at nation
1. dialect England : normal and characteristic quality, strength, vigor, or resiliency
< she cooked the meat till it lost all its nature >
2.
a. : the essential character or constitution of something
< the nature of the controversy >
< inquire into the nature of heredity — Theodosius Dobzhansky >
especially : the essence or ultimate form of something
b. : the distinguishing qualities or properties of something
< the nature of mathematics >
< the nature of a literary movement >
3.
a. : the fundamental character, disposition, or temperament of a living being usually innate and unchangeable
< it was in his nature to look after others — F.A.Swinnerton >
< devotion that it was not in her nature to return — Naomi Lewis >
b. : the fundamental character, dispostion, or temperament of mankind as a whole : human nature b
< not interested in any particular man … but in the nature of man — Peter Dunne >
c.
(1) : a specified kind of individual character, disposition, or temperament
< his kindly nature >
(2) : a being possessing or characterized by such a specified character, disposition, or temperament
< who, like so many buoyant natures, had a talent for worrying — S.H.Adams >
4. : a creative and controlling agent, force, or principle operating in something and determining wholly or chiefly its constitution, development, and well-being:
a. : such a force or agency in the universe acting as a creative guiding intelligence : a set of principles held to be established for the regulation of the universe or observed in its operation
b. : an inner driving or prompting force (as instinct, appetite, desire) or the sum of such forces in an individual
5. : a life-giving or health-giving force in an animate being
6. : kind, order, or general character
< most of his public acts are of a ceremonial nature — London Calling >
< island songs of a Hawaiian nature — Eve Langley >
7. : the qualities, characteristics, properties, organs, and functions that together make up the vital being of a human being or other organism:
a. : such organs or functions requiring nourishment
b. : an excretory organ or function — usually used in the phrase call of nature
8. : normality especially as prescribed by law for sexual relations — usually used in the phrase against nature
< their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature — Rom. 1:26 (Authorized Version) >
— compare crime against nature
9. : feeling (as kindliness or affection) that is genuine, spontaneous, or unstudied in expression : naturalness 2
< that no compunctious visitings of nature shake my fell purpose — Shakespeare >
10.
a.
(1) : the created world in its entirety
(2) : the totality of physical reality exclusive of things mental
b. : the total system of spatiotemporal phenomena and events that can be explained by other occurrences in the same system
11. : the state of an unregenerate soul
< the difference between a state of nature and a state of grace — Robert South >
< the congenital nature of men is evil, the goodness in them acquired — E.R.Hughes >
12.
a. : a theoretical condition or stage of existence usually held to reveal man in his original or proper state: as
(1) : the normal and ideal character both of particular things and of the universe as a whole sometimes equated with reason and the rational
< the full meaning of the Stoic injunction that we live according to nature — Frank Thilly >
(2) : a simple, undomesticated, uncivilized mode of life among primitive men having few wants and obligations : a state of existence preceding the foundation of organized society
b. : a simplified mode of life especially as lived out of doors apart from communities and other civilizing and restraining influences
< escape from civilization and get back to nature >
13. : substance or essence that is the principle of specific proper acts or operations
< the union of two natures in Christ >
< in the Trinity, three persons in one divine nature >
14. : the genetically controlled qualities of an organism
< nature … modified by nurture — E.G.Conklin >
— compare nurture
15. : a particular order of existence or of existing things that is the subject matter of art: as
a. : one having an unchanged as contrasted with a developed, ordered, perfected, or man-made character
b. : real and objective existence : the world of mind and matter external to an observer : reality as observed
c. : the aspect of out-of-doors (as a landscape) : natural scenery
Synonyms: see type
II. intransitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Medieval Latin naturare, from Latin natura
: to give to each thing its specific nature
III. \“, in sense 2 nəˈtu̇(ə)r\ adjective
Etymology: nature (I)
1. : of or relating to nature
2. [French, plain, unadulterated (used of food or drink), from nature, n.] : brut |