1. (

• nature ,

) the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized; "it is the nature of fire to burn"; "the true nature of jealousy" ;

2. (

• nature

) a causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe; "the laws of nature"; "nature has seen to it that men are stronger than women" ;

3. (

• nature

) the natural physical world including plants and animals and landscapes etc.; "they tried to preserve nature as they found it" ;

4. (

• nature ,

) the complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions; "it is his nature to help others" ;

5. (

• nature

) a particular type of thing; "problems of this type are very difficult to solve"; "he's interested in trains and things of that nature"; "matters of a personal nature" ;