nature
/ˈneɪ.tʃə/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
The physical world and all living things, including plants, animals, and landscapes. It is often used for places that are not built by people.
- We spent the weekend in nature.
- The park is a small piece of nature in the city.
- Many people feel calm near nature.
- 2.
The basic character or quality of a person, thing, or situation. It describes what something is like at its core.
- It is in her nature to help others.
- The nature of the problem was unclear.
- We discussed the nature of the agreement.
Adinary Nuance
Nature is broader than environment. It can mean the whole natural world, or the basic character of something. Use environment more for pollution, climate, and human impact. Use nature when you mean wild places, living things, or the core quality of a person or problem.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thiên nhiên
- Spanish
- naturaleza
- Chinese
- 自然
- Japanese
- 自然
- Korean
- 자연
Etymology
Nature comes from Latin natura, meaning 'birth' or 'the world of things.' It entered English through Old French in the Middle Ages.
Common phrases
in naturethe nature ofhuman naturenature reserve
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is nature the same as environment?
- Not exactly. Nature usually means the natural world, while environment often includes human and natural surroundings.
- Can I say 'the nature of' in formal writing?
- Yes. It is common in formal, academic, and business English.
- What does 'in nature' mean?
- It means in the natural world, away from buildings and human-made things.
- Is 'nature' a common word?
- Yes. It is very common in everyday speech, school English, and academic English.