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natural

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | Date: 2008

nat·u·ral / ˈnachərəl/ • adj. 1. existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind: carrots contain a natural antiseptic that fights bacteria | natural disasters such as earthquakes. ∎  (of fabric) having a color characteristic of the unbleached and undyed state; off-white. 2. of or in agreement with the character or makeup of, or circumstances surrounding, someone or something: sharks have no natural enemies. ∎  (of a person) born with a particular skill, quality, or ability: he was a natural entertainer. ∎  (of a skill, quality, or ability) coming instinctively to a person; innate: writing appears to demand muscular movements that are not natural to children. ∎  (of a person or their behavior) relaxed and unaffected; spontaneous: he replied with too much nonchalance to sound natural. ∎  occurring as a matter of course and without debate; inevitable: Ken was a natural choice for coach. ∎  (of law or justice) based on innate moral sense; instinctively felt to be right and fair.See also natural law. ∎  Bridge (of a bid) straightforwardly reflecting one's holding of cards. Often contrasted with conventional or artificial. 3. (of a parent or child) related by blood: such adopted children always knew who their natural parents were. ∎ chiefly archaic illegitimate: the Baron left a natural son by his mistress. 4. Mus. (of a note) not sharped or flatted: [in comb.] 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. ∎  of or relating to the notes and intervals of the harmonic series. 5. Christian Theol. relating to earthly or unredeemed human or physical nature as distinct from the spiritual or supernatural realm. • n. 1. a person regarded as having an innate gift or talent for a particular task or activity: she was a natural for the sort of television work required of her. ∎  a thing that is particularly suited for something: perky musical accompaniment would seem a natural for this series. 2. Mus. 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 keys on a keyboard instrument that are normally white. 3. a creamy beige color. 4. a hand of cards, throw of dice, or other result that 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. dated, offens. a person mentally handicapped from birth. • adv. inf. or dial. naturally: keep walking—just act natural. DERIVATIVES: nat·u·ral·ness n.

© The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2008, originally published by Oxford University Press 2008.