- 1[only before noun] existing in nature; not made or caused by humans natural disasters the natural world (= of trees, rivers, animals, and birds) a country's natural resources (= its coal, oil, forests, etc.) wildlife in its natural habitat My hair soon grew back to its natural color (= after being dyed ). The clothes are available in warm natural colors. compare supernatural
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expected - 2normal; as you would expect to die of natural causes (= not by violence, but normally, of old age) He thought social inequality was all part of the natural order of things. She was the natural choice for the job. compare unnatural
- 3used to describe behavior that is part of the character that a person or an animal was born with the natural agility of a cat the natural processes of language learning It's only natural to worry about your children. When body temperature is beginning to fall there is a natural tendency to fall asleep. It was my natural instinct to defend myself. ability
- 4[only before noun] having an ability that you were born with He's a natural leader. relaxed
- 5relaxed and not pretending to be someone or something different It's difficult to look natural when you're feeling nervous. parents/children
- 6[only before noun] (of parents or their children) related by blood His natural mother was unable to care for him so he was raised by an aunt.
- 7[only before noun] (old use or formal) (of a son or daughter) born to parents who are not married synonym illegitimate She was a natural daughter of King James II.
- 8[only before noun] based on human reason alone natural justice/law in music
- 9used after the name of a note to show that the note is neither sharp nor flat. The written symbol is (♮) B natural nature nounnatural adjective (≠unnatural)naturally adverb (≠unnaturally)
in nature
Check pronunciation: natural