natural
adjective/ˈnætʃrəl/
/ˈnætʃrəl/
Word Family
- nature noun
- natural adjective (≠ unnatural)
- naturally adverb (≠ unnaturally)
- [only before noun] existing in nature; not made or caused by humans
- the natural world (= of trees, rivers, animals and birds)
- We should respect animals and the natural environment, which is their home.
- a country’s natural resources (= its coal, oil, forests, etc.)
- wildlife in its natural habitat
- The natural beauty of flowers inspired Monet's experiments in colour.
- All the materials used are natural.
- My hair soon grew back to its natural colour (= after being dyed).
- The clothes are available in warm natural colours.
Extra ExamplesTopics The environmenta1- The building is designed to let in as much natural light as possible.
- Your highlights look really natural.
- The lovely natural setting was undisturbed.
- It is important to preserve our country's natural heritage.
- The designers were keen to respect the natural landscape.
- Cooking is all about capturing the natural flavour of the food.
- Only ochre and other natural colours are used in the wall paintings.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- completely
- totally
- really
- …
- (especially of food) having little or no processing
- natural yogurt (= with no flavour added)
- I try to eat a sugar-free, natural food diet.
- Natural treatments have no unwanted side effects.
- We made bread with a natural raising agent.
- normal; as you would expect
- to die of natural causes (= not by violence, but normally, of old age)
- Singing for her was as natural as breathing.
- He thought social inequality was all part of the natural order of things.
- She was the natural choice for the job.
- it is natural (for somebody) to do something It's only natural to worry about your children.
- It's perfectly natural for you to feel annoyed.
- it is natural that… It's natural that he would want to see his own son.
Extra Examples- The man died of natural causes.
- I had a quite natural desire to hit him.
- They seemed to be the natural party of government.
- It's only natural that she should feel upset.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- appear
- be
- feel
- …
- only
- perfectly
- quite
- …
- used to describe behaviour or abilities that are 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
- She has a natural ability with children.
- Daniel's natural talent is for engineering.
- It was my natural instinct to defend myself.
- When body temperature is beginning to fall there is a natural tendency to fall asleep.
Extra Examples- Children have a natural desire for affection and security.
- Hunting is one of a cat's natural instincts.
- Extreme shyness seemed to be part of her natural character.
- His natural gifts as a preacher meant he was in great demand.
- [only before noun] having an ability that you were born with
- He's a natural leader.
- She's a natural rebel.
- relaxed and not pretending to be somebody/something different
- It's difficult to look natural when you're feeling nervous.
- There's something really natural about her.
- [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.
- [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.
- [only before noun] based on human reason alone
- I am a firm believer in human rights and natural law.
- It goes against natural justice to punish a child for the crimes of its parents.
- used after the name of a note to show that the note is neither sharp nor flat. The written symbol is (♮).
- B natural
in nature
expected
behaviour/ability
relaxed
parents/children
based on human reason
in music
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘having a certain status by birth’): from Old French, from Latin naturalis, from natura ‘birth, nature, quality’, from nat- ‘born’, from the verb nasci.
Check pronunciation:
natural