(1)大自然：自然界(the sum total of all things in time and space;the entire physical universe)[U]：the wonders/beauties/forces/laws of～大自然的奇观/美丽/力量/法则;study/observe/harness/worship/go against/struggle with～研究大自然/观察大自然/利用大自然/崇拜大自然/违背大自然/战天斗地;N～is at its most exciting in the spring. 大自然在春天最美丽。〖同〗globe，cosmos，universe;

(2)自然的生活;原始生活(simple life without the influences of the civilized world)[U]：Eighteenth century sentimental writers advocated a return to～. 18世纪的伤感主义作家鼓吹回归大自然。They want to escape from civilization and get back to～. 他们想逃避文明，回到原始生活中去。

(3)本(天性);本质(the qualities born in a person or an animal)[C，U]：It goes against her～to be dishonest. 虚伪违背她的天性。I'm not by～suspicious of people. 我生来不懂得怀疑别人。He was of a very lively～;his wit was to the point. 他性格活泼，才智机敏。 Different breeds of dogs have different～s. 不同品种的狗天性各异。It's a lion's～to kill. 嗜血是狮子的本性。〖同〗character，characteristic，property，feature;

(4)性质(quality;what something is or consists of)[C，通常sing]：the～of gases/the work/air/the illness/the job/liquids 气体/工作/空气/疾病/工作/液体的性质;The President's duties are not all purely executive in～. 总统的职责并不都是纯行政性的。The substance has a hard，brittle～. 这种物质具有坚硬而易碎的特性。〖同〗character，quality，property，feature;

(5)种(类)(a kind，type)[C，通常sing]：Books of this～do not interest me. 这种书引不起我的兴趣。A story of this～should not be published. 这种小说根本不应该出版。What～of excuse is that ? 那叫什么理由? She doesn't like bankers and other people of that～. 她不喜欢银行家之类的人。

in the nature of sth 具有……的性质;像;类似;属于一类：His request was in the～of a command. 他的要求实质上是一道命令。

second nature(to sb) 第二天性：Kindness is second～to him. 仁慈是他的第二天性。

→natural adj