26984 words

natural

20 definitions • 35 examples
1
as found in nature and not involving anything made or done by people:

Examples:

a natural substance
People say that breast-feeding is better than bottle-feeding because it's more natural.
natural causes He died from natural causes (= because he was old or ill).
natural disaster Floods and earthquakes are natural disasters.
2
A natural ability or characteristic is one that you were born with:

Examples:

natural beauty
a natural talent for sports
She's a natural blonde (= her real hair colour is blonde).
3
(of a person or their behaviour) seeming normal and relaxed:

Examples:

sound natural "Hi, how are you?" he asked, trying to sound natural.
He reads the news in a natural, conversational way.
4
Natural food or drink is pure and has no chemical substances added to it and is therefore thought to be healthy:

Examples:

natural mineral water
natural ingredients
5
a parent who caused someone to be born, although possibly not their legal parent or the parent who raised them:

Examples:

She was eventually reunited with her natural mother.
6

Examples:

Of course you're upset - it's only natural.
it is natural that It's natural that you should feel anxious when you first leave home.
it is natural to It's quite natural to experience a few doubts just before you get married.
7
(of a musical note) not sharp (= a semitone higher than the stated note) or flat (= a semitone lower than the stated note):

Examples:

E natural
8
someone who was born with the right characteristics or abilities for doing a particular thing:

Examples:

She won't have any troubles learning to ride a horse - you can see she's a natural.
9
an musical note that is not a sharp (= a semitone higher than the stated note) or a flat (= a semitone lower than the stated note):

Examples:

The bassoon plays a natural instead of a flat.
The period sees the introduction of key signatures and accidentals: sharps, flats, and naturals.
10
in a way that is normal and relaxed:

Examples:

act natural You're supposed to act natural when we're recording the video.
11
from nature; not artificial or involving anything made or caused by people:

Examples:

Cotton is a natural fiber.
He died of natural causes (= because he was old or ill).
Floods and earthquakes are natural disasters.
12
If food or drink is described as natural, it means it has no artificial chemical substances added to it.
13
having an ability or characteristic because you were born with it:

Examples:

a natural athlete
a natural blonde
14
to be expected; usual:

Examples:

a natural reaction
[ + to infinitive ] It’s only natural to be upset when your dog dies.
15
(of written music) having no sharp or flat:

Examples:

a B natural
a natural scale
16
a mark in written music that shows that a note should return to its original pitch
17
a person born with the characteristics or abilities needed for doing something:

Examples:

She won’t have any trouble learning to ride a horse – she’s a natural.
18
as found in nature, and not involving anything made or done by people:

Examples:

natural flavourings/foods/ingredients Over 50% of all cosmetics products in the Chinese market are advertised as consisting of natural ingredients.
They are implementing a major economic recovery programme after the country's worst-ever natural disaster.
19

Examples:

Having seen the value of their shares collapse, it was only natural for shareholders to complain.
For the customer, the natural choice is a repayment mortgage, not an endowment.
20
used to describe an ability or a characteristic that someone was born with:

Examples:

He was a natural leader.

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