the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized; it is the nature of fire to burn; the true nature of jealousy'
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'
the natural physical world including plants and animals and landscapes etc.; they tried to preserve nature as they found it'
the complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions; it is his nature to help others'
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'