nature
/ˈneɪtʃə(r)/noun
1
- mass noun the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations总称大自然, 自然界：
the breathtaking beauty of nature.
大自然令人惊叹的美丽。
1.1
- the physical force regarded as causing and regulating these phenomena自然力：
1.2
- the countryside, especially when picturesque自然（风光）。
1.3
- archaic a living thing's vital functions or needs〈古〉（生物）本性, 自然需要。
2
- in sing. the basic or inherent features of something, especially when seen as characteristic of it本质, 实质; 特性：
helping them to realize the nature of their problems
帮助他们认识他们问题的本质
there are a lot of other documents of that nature.
还有很多同类性质的文件。
2.1
- the innate or essential qualities or character of a person or animal（人或动物的）秉性, 天性：
it's not in her nature to listen to advice
听取建议不是她的天性
I'm not violent by nature.
我生性并不粗暴。参见HUMAN NATURE.
2.2
- mass noun inborn or hereditary characteristics as an influence on or determinant of personality天生性格。常与NURTURE相对。
2.3
- with adj. archaic a person of a specified character〈古〉具有某种特性的人：
Emerson was so much more luminous a nature.
爱默生是一个更为睿智的人。
短语
against nature
- unnatural; immoral不合常情的, 反常的; 邪恶的。
someone's better nature
- the good side of a person's character; their capacity for tolerance, generosity, or sympathy人性中善良的一面：
Charlotte planned to appeal to his better nature.
夏洛特打算求助于他善良的一面。
call of nature
- used euphemistically to refer to a need to urinate or defecate〈婉〉要上厕所的感觉。
from nature
- (in art) using natural scenes or objects as models（艺术用语）写生。
get（或go）back to nature
- return to the type of life (regarded as being more in tune with nature) that existed before the development of complex industrial societies回归自然。
in the nature of
- similar in type to or having the characteristics of类似…的; 属…一类的：
a week at home would be in the nature of a holiday.
在家里待一周和度假没什么区别。
in the nature of things
1
- inevitable必然的, 理所当然的：
it is in the nature of things that the majority of music prizes get set up for performers rather than composers.
大部分的音乐奖项理所当然是为演奏者而不是为作曲者设立的。
2
- inevitably必然地, 理所当然地：
in the nature of things, old people spend much more time indoors.
当然, 老年人在室内待的时间要多得多。
in a state of nature
1
- in an uncivilized or uncultivated state未开化状态的; 野生状态的。
2
- totally naked裸体的。
3
- Christian Theology in a morally unregenerate condition, unredeemed by divine grace【基督教神学】处于未得神恩的有罪状态。
the nature of the beast
- informal the inherent or essential quality or character of something, which cannot be changed〈非正式〉（无法更改的）本性。
词源
Middle English (denoting the physical power of a person)： from Old French, from Latin natura 'birth, nature, quality', from nat- 'born', from the verb nasci.