natural

B1 · Intermediate

adj. normal and what you would expect in a specific situation.

adj. happening or existing as part of the usual course of things; expected or appropriate.

“It is natural to feel nervous before you give a big speech.”

“Given the circumstances, a period of adjustment is a natural response to such a significant career transition.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. behaving in a relaxed way that is not fake or forced.

adj. having or showing a relaxed and unaffected manner; free from artificiality.

“She has a very natural way of speaking that makes people trust her.”

“The actor delivered a remarkably natural performance, avoiding the melodramatic flourishes typical of the genre.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. someone who is good at something without having to try very hard.

n. a person having an innate talent or skill for a particular activity.

“You should see him on the football pitch; he is a total natural.”

“Despite having never picked up a violin before, she proved to be a natural, mastering the basic scales within a single afternoon.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Music Technical

n. a note that is not sharp or flat, or the sign used to show this.

n. a note that is neither a sharp nor a flat; also the symbol used to cancel a previous accidental.

“The piece changes key, so make sure you play the B natural in this bar.”

“The composer uses a series of naturals to strip away the chromatic tension established in the opening movement.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Mathematics Technical

n. a whole number like 1, 2, or 3.

n. a positive integer, or a non-negative integer depending on the definition used.

“In this math problem, we are only looking for answers that are naturals.”

“The proof relies on the induction principle, which is a fundamental property of the set of naturals.”