nature

/ˈneɪtʃər/

/ˈneɪtʃə/

Other forms: natures

Your nature is sort of the way you are — the sum total of how you think, feel, and behave. It might be in your nature to remain calm and level-headed when faced with a difficult challenge.

Things that aren't people can also have their own nature. You might notice the frantic nature of a political debate, or you might question the nature of your brother's friendships. Nature can also refer to the physical world made up of plants and animals: what you think of as "the great outdoors." You might be a nature lover who enjoys hiking. Nature can also describe natural forces, such as the destructive elements of nature, like a tsunami or a tornado.

Definitions of nature

1. noun

   the natural physical world including plants and animals and landscapes etc.
   “they tried to preserve nature as they found it”

   synonyms: environment

   type of:

   cosmos, creation, existence, macrocosm, universe, world

   everything that exists anywhere
2. noun

   a causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe
   “the laws of nature”

   type of:

   causal agency, causal agent, cause

   any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results
3. noun

   the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
   “it is the nature of fire to burn”

   “the true nature of jealousy”

   type of:

   quality

   an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
4. noun

   the complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions
   “it is his nature to help others”

   types:

   animal nature, animality

   the physical (or animal) side of a person as opposed to the spirit or intellect

   disposition, temperament

   your usual mood

   complexion

   (obsolete) a combination of elements (of dryness and warmth or of the four humors) that was once believed to determine a person's health and temperament

   sociality

   the tendency to associate with others and to form social groups

   aloneness, loneliness, lonesomeness, solitariness

   a disposition toward being alone

   animalism, physicality

   preoccupation with satisfaction of physical drives and appetites

   bloodiness, bloodthirstiness

   a disposition to shed blood

   heart, spirit

   an inclination or tendency of a certain kind

   nervousness

   a sensitive or highly strung temperament

   esprit de corps, morale, team spirit

   the spirit of a group that makes the members want the group to succeed

   moodiness

   having temperamental and changeable moods

   blood

   temperament or disposition

   perfectionism

   a disposition to feel that anything less than perfect is unacceptable

   permissiveness, tolerance

   a disposition to allow freedom of choice and behavior

   restrictiveness, unpermissiveness

   a lack of permissiveness or indulgence and a tendency to confine behavior within certain specified limits

   good nature

   a cheerful, obliging disposition

   agreeability, agreeableness

   a temperamental disposition to be agreeable

   ill nature

   a disagreeable, irritable, or malevolent disposition

   disagreeableness

   an ill-tempered and offensive disposition

   willingness

   cheerful compliance

   involuntariness, unwillingness

   the trait of being unwilling

   sociability, sociableness

   the relative tendency or disposition to be sociable or associate with one's fellows

   friendliness

   a friendly disposition

   unsociability, unsociableness

   an unsociable disposition; avoiding friendship or companionship

   unfriendliness

   an unfriendly disposition

   calm, calmness, composure, equanimity

   steadiness of mind under stress

   discomposure

   a temperament that is perturbed and lacking in composure

   optimism

   a general disposition to expect the best in all things

   pessimism

   a general disposition to look on the dark side and to expect the worst in all things

   epicurism

   the disposition and habits of an epicure

   gourmandism

   the disposition and habits of a gourmand

   type of:

   trait

   a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
5. noun

   a particular type of thing
   “he's interested in trains and things of that nature”

   “matters of a personal nature”

   type of:

   type

   a subdivision of a particular kind of thing