natˈurally adverb

1. In a natural manner
2. By nature
3. According to nature or one's own nature
4. In a lifelike manner
5. Normally
6. In the ordinary course
7. Of course

natˈuralness noun

natural abundance noun (physics)

Same as abundance

natural background noun

The radiation due to natural radioactivity and to cosmic rays, enhanced by contamination and fallout

natˈural-born adjective

Native

natural childbirth noun

Childbirth with as little medical intervention, esp as little anaesthesia, etc as possible, relying on the mother doing special breathing and relaxation exercises

natural classification see natural system below.

natural cycle IVF noun

IVF (qv) in which the woman is allowed to ovulate naturally rather than being given drugs to stimulate ovulation

natural death noun

Death owing to disease or old age, not violence or accident

natural frequency noun

1. The frequency at which an object or system will vibrate freely in the absence of external forces (physics)
2. The frequency at which resonance occurs in a circuit (elec)

natural gas noun

Gases issuing from the earth, whether from natural fissures or bored wells, applied particularly to the hydrocarbon gases associated with the production of petroleum and used as domestic or industrial fuel in place of town gas (see also North Sea gas under north)

natural historian noun

natural history noun

Orig the description of all that is in nature, now used of the sciences that deal with the earth and its productions, ie botany, zoology and mineralogy, esp field zoology

natural immunity noun

That level of immunity with which a person is born (cf acquired immunity)

natural killer cell noun

A naturally occurring lymphoid cell which attacks and destroys tumour cells and some virally infected cells in the absence of prior immunization and without evident antigen specificity

natural language noun

A language which has evolved naturally, opp to artificial language

natural law noun

1. A law of nature
2. The sense of right and wrong which arises from the constitution of the human mind, as distinguished from the results of revelation or legislation

natural logarithm noun

One to the base e

natural magic see under magic

natural numbers plural noun

The whole numbers 1, 2, 3 and upwards, sometimes also including 0

natural order noun

(in botany) a category now usually called a family

natural philosopher noun

natural philosophy noun

1. The science of the physical properties of bodies
2. Physics, or physics and dynamics

natural radioactivity noun

Radioactivity that is found in nature

natural religion see natural theology below.

natural resources plural noun

Features, properties, etc of the land such as minerals, an abundance of water, timber, etc that occur naturally and can be exploited by human beings

natural scale noun

A scale of music written without sharps or flats

natural science noun

The science of nature, as distinguished from mental and moral science and from mathematics

natural selection noun

Evolution by the survival of the fittest with inheritance of their fitness by the next generation

natural system or natural classification noun

A classification of plants and animals according to presumed relationship by descent, distinguished in botany from the artificial system of Linnaeus

natural theology or natural religion noun

Religion derived from reasoned facts, not revelation

natural therapy noun

Treatment based on the ability of the body to heal itself

natural virtues plural noun

Those virtues (esp justice, prudence, temperance and fortitude) of which people are capable

natural wastage noun

(reduction of staff by) non-replacement of those who leave, eg through retirement

natural year see under year