natural
nat‧u‧ral1 S2 W1 /ˈnætʃərəl/ 
adjective
1. NATURE existing in nature and not caused, made, or controlled by people ⇨ artificial, man-made:
the study of the natural world (=trees, rivers, animals, plants etc)
an area of spectacular natural beauty
natural disasters (=things such as floods or earthquakes)
death from natural causes
the need for natural light in offices
2. NORMAL normal and as you would expect
OPP unnatural, abnormal:
At the time, accepting his offer had seemed the most natural thing in the world.
it is natural (for somebody) to do something
It’s not natural for a child of his age to be so quiet.
It’s only natural that he should be interested in what happens.
It was a perfectly natural (=not surprising) mistake to make.
3. BEHAVIOUR a natural tendency or type of behaviour is part of your character when you are born, rather than one that you learn later:
Babies have a natural fear of falling.
4. ABILITY having a particular quality or skill without needing to be taught and without needing to try hard:
a natural musician
Cheryl has a natural elegance about her.
his natural ability with figures
5. RELAXED behaving in a way that is normal and shows you are relaxed and not trying to pretend:
Be cool, be natural.
6. PARENT/CHILD [only before noun]
a. someone’s natural parent or child is their real parent or child, who is biologically related to them:
An adopted young person has the right to trace his natural parents.
b. old-fashioned if someone is the natural child of someone, their parents were not married to each other:
He was rumoured to be the natural son of a duke.
7. REAL not connected with gods, magic, or spirits
OPP supernatural:
I’m sure there’s a perfectly natural explanation.
8. natural justice/law justice that is based on human reason alone
9. FOOD with nothing added to change the taste:
natural yoghurt
10. MUSIC technical a musical note that is natural has been raised from a flat by one semitone or lowered from a sharp by one semitone ⇨ sharp, flat
—naturalness noun [uncountable]:
Manufacturers now choose to emphasize the naturalness of the ingredients used in their products.
▪ natural existing in nature and not caused, made, or controlled by people: a natural lake | natural light | the earth's natural resources | We only use natural ingredients in our products. | his natural hair colour
▪wild used about flowers, plants, and animals that are not controlled by people. Also used about areas of land where there are no humans: We found some wild strawberries. | wild horses | wild open spaces
▪pure used about food, drink, or materials that have not had anything added to them: pure orange juice | pure new wool
▪organic used about fruit, vegetables, meat etc produced without using chemicals: organic carrots | organic milk | organic beauty products
▪unspoiled (also unspoilt British English) a place that is unspoiled is still beautiful because no one has built roads or buildings on it: It was a pleasant unspoilt village. | The countryside is remarkably unspoiled.
▪untouched [not before noun] a place that is untouched has not been affected by human activity: There are few forested areas of the world that remain untouched by humans.
▪virgin [only before noun] virgin forest or land is still in its natural state and has not been spoiled or changed in any way by humans: Large areas of virgin rainforest will be protected from destruction. | He bought 14,000 acres of virgin land in Ontario.
■ COLLOCATIONS CHECK
▪wild flowers/plants/places
▪organic food/vegetables/products
▪unspoiled countryside/island/beauty
▪virgin forest/land
natural2 noun [countable]
People think I am a natural, but I’ve had to work at it.
2. technical
a. a musical note that has been changed from a flat to be a semitone higher, or from a sharp to be a semitone lower
b. the sign in written music that shows this kind of musical note
| I |
adjective Word Family: noun: nature, naturalist, naturalism, naturalization, naturalness, the supernatural, natural, naturist, naturism; adverb: naturally ≠ unnaturally, naturalistically, supernaturally; adjective: natural ≠ unnatural, supernatural, naturalistic; verb: naturalize
1. NATURE existing in nature and not caused, made, or controlled by people ⇨ artificial, man-made:
2. NORMAL normal and as you would expect
OPP unnatural, abnormal:
it is natural (for somebody) to do something
3. BEHAVIOUR a natural tendency or type of behaviour is part of your character when you are born, rather than one that you learn later:
4. ABILITY having a particular quality or skill without needing to be taught and without needing to try hard:
5. RELAXED behaving in a way that is normal and shows you are relaxed and not trying to pretend:
6. PARENT/CHILD [only before noun]
a. someone’s natural parent or child is their real parent or child, who is biologically related to them:
b. old-fashioned if someone is the natural child of someone, their parents were not married to each other:
7. REAL not connected with gods, magic, or spirits
OPP supernatural:
8. natural justice/law justice that is based on human reason alone
9. FOOD with nothing added to change the taste:
10. MUSIC technical a musical note that is natural has been raised from a flat by one semitone or lowered from a sharp by one semitone ⇨ sharp, flat
—naturalness noun [uncountable]:
| THESAURUS |
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
■ COLLOCATIONS CHECK
▪
▪
▪
▪
| II |
noun [countable] Word Family: noun: nature, naturalist, naturalism, naturalization, naturalness, the supernatural, natural, naturist, naturism; adverb: naturally ≠ unnaturally, naturalistically, supernaturally; adjective: natural ≠ unnatural, supernatural, naturalistic; verb: naturalize
1. be a natural to be good at doing something without having to try hard or practise: 2. technical
a. a musical note that has been changed from a flat to be a semitone higher, or from a sharp to be a semitone lower
b. the sign in written music that shows this kind of musical note