nat|ty /næ ti/ (nattier , nattiest )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe clothes, especially men's clothes, as natty , you mean that they are smart and neat. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ …a natty pin stripe suit. □ Cliff was a natty dresser.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as natty , you think it is smart and cleverly designed. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ …natty little houses.
natu|ral ◆◆◇ /næ tʃərəl/ (naturals )
1 ADJ If you say that it is natural for someone to act in a particular way or for something to happen in that way, you mean that it is reasonable in the circumstances. □ [+ for ] It is only natural for youngsters to crave the excitement of driving a fast car. □ A period of depression can be a perfectly natural response to certain aspects of life.
2 ADJ Natural behaviour is shared by all people or all animals of a particular type and has not been learned. □ …the insect's natural instinct to feed. □ Anger is the natural reaction we experience when we feel threatened or frustrated.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone with a natural ability or skill was born with that ability and did not have to learn it. □ She has a natural ability to understand the motives of others. □ He had a natural flair for business.
4 N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a natural , you mean that they do something very well and very easily. □ [+ with ] He's a natural with any kind of engine. □ She proved to be a natural on camera.
5 ADJ If someone's behaviour is natural , they appear to be relaxed and are not trying to hide anything. □ Bethan's sister was as friendly and natural as the rest of the family. ● natu|ral|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ …people behaving naturally, not posing for the camera. □ You feel you can talk quite naturally to her. ● natu|ral|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] The critics praised the reality of the scenery and the naturalness of the acting.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] Natural things exist or occur in nature and are not made or caused by people. □ It has called the typhoon the worst natural disaster in South Korea in many years. □ The gigantic natural harbour of Poole is a haven for boats. ● natu|ral|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ Nitrates are chemicals that occur naturally in water and the soil.
7 PHRASE If someone dies of or from natural causes , they die because they are ill or old rather than because of an accident or violence. □ According to the Home Office, your brother died of natural causes.
na tu|ral chi ld|birth N‑UNCOUNT If a woman gives birth by natural childbirth , she is not given any drugs to relieve her pain or to send her to sleep.
na tu|ral ga s N‑UNCOUNT Natural gas is gas which is found underground or under the sea. It is collected and stored, and piped into people's homes to be used for cooking and heating.
na tu|ral hi s|to|ry N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Natural history is the study of animals and plants and other living things. □ Schools regularly bring children to the beach for natural history lessons.
natu|ral|ise /næ tʃərəla I z/ → see naturalize
natu|ral|ism /næ tʃərəl I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Naturalism is a theory in art and literature which states that people and things should be shown in a realistic way.
natu|ral|ist /næ tʃərəl I st/ (naturalists ) N‑COUNT A naturalist is a person who studies plants, animals, insects, and other living things.
natu|ral|is|tic /næ tʃərəl I st I k/
1 ADJ Naturalistic art or writing tries to show people and things in a realistic way. □ These drawings are among his most naturalistic.
2 ADJ Naturalistic means resembling something that exists or occurs in nature. □ Further research is needed under rather more naturalistic conditions.
natu|ral|ize /næ tʃərəla I z/ (naturalizes , naturalizing , naturalized ) in BRIT, also use naturalise 1 VERB To naturalize a species of plant means to start it growing in an area where it is not usually found. If a plant naturalizes in an area where it was not found before, it starts to grow there naturally. □ [V n] A friend sent me a root from Mexico, and I hope to naturalize it. □ [V ] The plant naturalises well in grass.
2 VERB If the government of a country naturalizes someone, they allow a person who was not born in that country to become a citizen of it. □ [V n] No one expects the Baltic states to naturalise young Russian soldiers, but army pensioners can be given citizenship. ● natu|rali|za|tion /næ tʃərəla I ze I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ They swore their allegiance to the U.S.A. and received their naturalization papers.
3 → see also naturalized
natu|ral|ized /næ tʃərəla I zd/ in BRIT, also use naturalised ADJ [ADJ n] A naturalized citizen of a particular country is someone who has legally become a citizen of that country, although they were not born there.
natu|ral|ly ◆◇◇ /næ tʃərəli/
1 ADV [ADV before v, ADV adj] You use naturally to indicate that you think something is very obvious and not at all surprising in the circumstances. □ When things go wrong, all of us naturally feel disappointed and frustrated. □ Naturally these comings and goings excited some curiosity. □ He had been stunned and, naturally, deeply upset.