nature

The word “nature” means the physical world and everything in it — plants, animals, landscapes, and natural forces — as distinct from human-made things. In plain terms, either the natural world (trees, animals, weather) or the essential character of a person or thing.

“Nature” is pronounced NAY-chuh (/ˈneɪ̯.t͡ʃəɹ/ in IPA).

Here is “nature” used in a sentence: “She loves hiking because it gets her out into nature.”

“Nature” is a noun.

The word “nature” comes from Latin. From Old French nature, from Latin natura ("birth, constitution, character"), from natus, "born" — the same root that gives us "native" and "nation.".

“Nature” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Nature” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the physical world and everything in it — plants, animals, landscapes, and natural forces — as distinct from human-made things.

Nature is the physical world of living things and natural forces existing on its own — forests, oceans, wildlife, weather. The environment is the surroundings in which life exists, and often stresses how those surroundings are affected by human activity. Nature is what exists; the environment is the setting we live in and impact.

A forest full of trees, birds, and insects is nature; so are mountains, rivers, oceans, and the weather. A wild meadow, a coral reef, or a thunderstorm all count. Anything belonging to the physical world and not made by people — living or not — is part of nature.

Nature sustains life. It provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat, while forests and oceans regulate climate and shelter countless species. Beyond survival, time spent in nature is widely linked to better mental and physical health, which is why protecting it matters so much.