- nature
- noun1 the physical world; plants, animals, etc.ADJECTIVE▪ Mother▪
Mother Nature's way of dealing with overpopulation
VERB + NATURE▪ commune with▪He believed in spending half an hour each day to relax and commune with nature.
▪ be back to, get back to▪We built our house in the country because we wanted to get back (= be close) to nature.
▪ be found in▪man-made substances not found in nature
NATURE + VERB▪ endow (sb with) sth, give sb sth, provide (sb with) sth▪Nature had endowed her with exceptional vitality.
▪ produce sth▪It's highly unlikely that this mound was produced by nature.
NATURE + NOUN▪ conservation▪ preserve (AmE), reserve▪ trail▪ loverPREPOSITION▪ close to nature▪people who live in the country and are close to nature
▪ in nature▪We appreciate beauty in nature.
PHRASES▪ the forces of nature, the laws of nature▪ a love of nature▪His love of nature was expressed through his wildlife paintings.
▪ let nature take its course▪We can only treat the injury and then let nature take its course.
2 qualities/features of sb/sthADJECTIVE▪ basic, essential, fundamental, intrinsic, real, true▪ artificial▪ exact, precise, specific▪I'm not clear about the exact nature of their relationship.
▪ general▪ selective▪ limited, restrictive▪ changing, seasonal, temporary, transitory▪ dynamic▪ uncertain, unpredictable▪ arbitrary, random▪ subjective▪the subjective nature of perception
▪ abstract▪ capricious, fickle▪ intractable▪ distinctive, unique, unusual▪ radical▪ complex▪ dual▪the dual nature of man as a physical and spiritual being
▪ special, specialist (BrE)▪ traditional▪ controversial▪ sensitive▪The victim has not been identified because of the sensitive nature of the case.
▪ contradictory▪ problematic▪ unsatisfactory (esp. BrE)▪the unsatisfactory nature of the meeting
▪ good▪People are always taking advantage of her good nature (= her kindness).
▪ human▪It's only human nature to want more money.
▪ divine▪ confidential, personal, private▪ public▪ international, local▪the international nature of the business
▪ repetitive▪ routine (esp. BrE)▪matters of a routine nature
▪ detailed▪Because of the detailed nature of the work, I have to use a very fine brush.
▪ practical▪ physical, psychological, sexual▪They define sexual harassment as unwanted conduct of a sexual nature.
▪ economic, legal, political, social▪Their problems are of an economic nature.
▪ contemplative▪ inquisitive▪ competitiveVERB + NATURE▪ have▪He has an inquisitive nature.
▪ reveal▪The parties would not reveal the exact nature of the dispute.
▪ conceal▪ reflect, show▪ emphasize▪ belie▪The gentle lower slopes belie the true nature of the mountain.
▪ be against, be contrary to, go against▪It was against his nature to tell lies.
▪ alter, change▪This new information does not change the nature of our findings.
▪ acknowledge, be aware of, recognize▪Are you aware of the nature of the risks involved?
▪ define, specify▪It is important to define the nature of the problem.
▪ assess, consider, discuss, examine, explore, investigate▪ comprehend, realize, understand▪The Buddhist goal is to realize the true nature of the world.
▪ clarify, elucidate, explain▪ describe▪ determine▪ depend on▪The method employed will depend on the nature of the task.
▪ appeal to▪There was no point appealing to her better nature (= kindness).
PREPOSITION▪ by nature▪He's not by nature an inquisitive person.
▪ concerning the nature of▪a debate concerning the nature of violence
▪ considering the nature of, given the nature of▪Given the nature of this matter, I am inclined to think it should be managed by you personally.
▪ in nature▪Their strategy was essentially political in nature.
▪ in sb/sth's nature▪It's not in his nature to complain.
▪A certain element of risk is in the nature of the job.
▪ of a … nature▪The legal concept of insanity is of a different nature from the medical.
PHRASES▪ by its very nature▪By its very nature a secret service is not open to public inspection.
▪ the extent and nature of sth▪We need to understand the true extent and nature of the problem.
▪ an insight into the nature of sth▪His theory provides a remarkable insight into the nature of the constitution.
▪ a part of human nature▪Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.
▪ a part of sb's nature▪the expressive part of his nature
▪ a side of sb's nature, a side to sb's nature▪He had a vicious side to his nature.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
