Entry Word: nature

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others <it was the violent nature of his stories that got them banned from school libraries> <her nature was such that lying was never an option for her> <the stoic nature of these people enables them to endure one calamity after another>

Synonyms character, complexion, constitution, genius, personality, tone

Related Words distinctiveness, distinctness, individuality, singularity, uniqueness; attribute, characteristic, earmark, feature, flavor, hallmark, mark, point, property, savor, stamp, trait; disposition, grain, sort, temper, temperament; composition, makeup; essence, essentiality, soul, spirit, stuff, substance; habit, way

2 that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation <needed to get out of the office and be out in nature to clear his head>

Synonyms open, open air, outdoors, out-of-doors, wild, wilderness

Related Words backwoods, bush, country, frontier, hinterland, sticks, up-country; outside, without; badland, barren, desert, waste, wasteland

3 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <group together anything round: buttons, lids, coins, and things of that nature> — see sort 1
4 oneʼs characteristic attitude or mood <a boy of a quiet and shy nature> — see disposition 1
5 the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is <some artists say that color, light, and shadow are the very nature of painting> — see essence
6 the whole body of things observed or assumed <the belief that all of nature is controlled by an unseen Supreme Being> — see universe