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   Nat·u·ral

   /ˈnaCHər(ə)l/

   

   adjective

   • 1. existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind: "carrots contain a natural antiseptic that fights bacteria"
   • ▪ (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" Similar bornnaturally gifteduntaught
   • ▪ (of a skill, quality, or ability) coming instinctively to a person; innate: "writing appears to demand muscular movements that are not natural to children" Similar innateinborninherentnativenative-bornintrinsicinstinctiveinstinctualintuitivenatural-borningrainedbuilt-inguthereditaryinheritedinbredcongenitalrare:connateconnaturalOpposite acquired
   • ▪ (of a person or their behavior) relaxed and unaffected; spontaneous: "he replied with too much nonchalance to sound natural" Similar unaffectedspontaneousuninhibitedstraightforwardrelaxedunselfconsciousgenuineopenartlessguilelessingenuousunsophisticatedunpretentiouswithout airseasyunstudiedunforceduncontrivedunmanneredunstiltedunconstrainedOpposite affectedfalsestiltedstrainedawkwardself-conscious
   • ▪ occurring as a matter of course and without debate; inevitable: "Ken was a natural choice for coach" Similar reasonablelogicalunderstandableunsurprisingexpected(only) to be expectedpredictableinevitableOpposite unreasonable
   • ▪ (of law or justice) based on innate moral sense; instinctively felt to be right and fair: "you might feel that holding the teacher responsible for the results contravenes natural justice"
   • 3. (of a parent or child) related by blood: "such adopted children always knew who their natural parents were"
   • ▪ illegitimate: archaic "the Baron left a natural son by his mistress" Similar illegitimateborn out of wedlockinformal, dated:born on the wrong side of the blanketarchaic:bastardmisbegottenbasebornspuriousrare:adulterineOpposite legitimate
   • 4. (of a note) not sharped or flatted: "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.
   • ▪ relating to the notes and intervals of the harmonic series.
   • 5. relating to earthly or unredeemed human or physical nature as distinct from the spiritual or supernatural realm.
   • 6. (of a bid) straightforwardly reflecting one's holding of cards: "his bid of one heart was natural and positive"

   noun

   • 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. 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: "color for the summer is defined by the trend towards naturals"
   • 4. (in a gambling game) a combination or score that immediately wins.
   • ▪ 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. an insect or other small creature used as bait, rather than an artificial imitation.
   • 6. a person with an intellectual disability. archaic

   adverb

   • 1. naturally: informal, dialect "keep walking—just act natural"

   Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘having a certain status by birth’): from Old French, from Latin naturalis, from natura ‘birth, nature, quality’ (see nature).

   Scrabble Points: 7

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