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natural

adj. · n.
US //ˈnætʃɝəɫ// UK //nˈætʃəɹəl// nat·u·ral
  1. 1 from nature (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    found in nature and not made or caused by people.

    existing in or formed by nature; not artificial or synthetic.

    Example

    The park is full of natural beauty, with tall trees and a clean river.

    Example

    The researchers focused on natural habitats that had remained undisturbed by industrial development for over a century.
  2. 2 normal or expected (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    normal and what you would expect in a specific situation.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    Given the circumstances, a period of adjustment is a natural response to such a significant career transition.
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  1. 3 not acted or fake (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The actor delivered a remarkably natural performance, avoiding the melodramatic flourishes typical of the genre.
  2. 4 a talented person (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    Despite having never picked up a violin before, she proved to be a natural, mastering the basic scales within a single afternoon.
  3. 5 music notation (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Music

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The composer uses a series of naturals to strip away the chromatic tension established in the opening movement.
  4. 6 natural number (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Math

    a whole number like 1, 2, or 3.

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

    Example

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

    Example

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

Inherited from Middle English natural, borrowed from Old French natural, naturel, from Latin nātūrālis, from nātus, the perfect participle of nāscor (“be born”, verb). Displaced native Old English ġecynde. By surface analysis, natur(e) + -al.

Word family

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