WordWeb Online

1. The essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
   "it is the nature of fire to burn"; "the true nature of jealousy"
    
2. A causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe
   "the laws of nature"; "nature has seen to it that men are stronger than women"
    
3. The natural physical world including plants and animals and landscapes etc.
   "they tried to preserve nature as they found it"
    
4. The complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions
   "it is his nature to help others"
    
5. A particular type of thing
   "he's interested in trains and things of that nature"; "matters of a personal nature"

Derived forms: natures

See also: good-natured, ill-natured

Type of: causal agency, causal agent, cause, cosmos, creation, existence, macrocosm, quality, trait, type, universe, world

Part of: personality

Encyclopedia: Nature, red in tooth and claw