natural

 
Pronunciation: /ˈnatʃ(ə)r(ə)l/

adjective

  • 1existing in or derived from nature; not made or caused by humankind: carrots contain a natural antiseptic natural disasters such as earthquakes
  • having had a minimum of processing or preservative treatment: natural food our nutritional products are completely natural
  • (of fabric) having a colour characteristic of the unbleached and undyed state; off-white.
  • 2in accordance with the nature of, or circumstances surrounding, someone or something: sharks have no natural enemies
  • [attributive] (of a person) having an innate skill or quality: he was a natural entertainer
  • (of a skill or quality) coming instinctively to a person; innate: Laura’s natural adaptability enabled her to settle quickly
  • (of a person or their behaviour) relaxed and unaffected; spontaneous: he replied with just a little too much nonchalance to sound natural
  • entirely to be expected: Ken was a natural choice for chairman
  • [attributive] (of law or justice) felt instinctively to be morally right and fair: you might feel that holding the teacher responsible for the results contravenes natural justice
  • 3 [attributive] (of a parent or child) related by blood: such adopted children always knew who their natural parents were
  • chiefly archaic (of a child) illegitimate: the Baron left a natural son by his mistress
  • 4 Music (of a note) not sharp or flat: the bassoon plays G natural instead of A flat
  • (of a brass instrument) having no valves and able to play only the notes of the harmonic series above a fundamental note.
  • relating to the notes and intervals of the harmonic series.
  • 5 Christian Theology relating to earthly human or physical nature as distinct from the spiritual or supernatural realm.
  • 6 Bridge (of a bid) straightforwardly reflecting one’s holding of cards: his bid of one heart was natural and positiveOften contrasted with conventional or artificial

noun

  • 1a person having an innate talent for a particular task or activity: she was a natural for television work
  • 2 Music a sign (♮) denoting a natural note when a previous sign or the key signature would otherwise demand a sharp or a flat.
  • a natural note.
  • any of the longer, lower keys on a keyboard instrument that are normally white.
  • 3 [mass noun] an off-white colour: colour for the summer is defined by the trend towards naturals
  • 4a hand of cards, throw of dice, or other result which wins immediately, in particular:
  • a hand of two cards making 21 in the first deal in blackjack and similar games.
  • a first throw of 7 or 11 at craps.
  • 5 Fishing an insect or other small creature used as bait, rather than an artificial imitation.
  • 6 archaic a person born with a learning disability.

adverb

informal or dialect
  • naturally: keep walking—just act natural

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'having a certain status by birth'): from Old French, from Latin naturalis, from natura 'birth, nature, quality' (see nature)