nature/ˋnetʃɚ; ˈneItʃə/n 1 [U] everything in the world that is not made or controlled by humans, such as animals, plants, and the weather 大自然﹐自然界: the forces of nature 大自然的力量in nature substances that are not found in nature 自然界中找不到的物质2 [C,U] someone's character, or what something is like〔人的〕本性﹐天性﹔〔事物的〕本质: a child with a happy nature 性格开朗的孩子sb's nature (used to say that you do not think someone would behave in that way) 某人的天性〔用于表示不认为某人会做某事〕It's not in Jane's nature to lie. 撒谎不是简的本性。by nature She was by nature a friendly person. 她生性是个友善的人。Of course she's jealous – it's only human nature (=the feelings and ways of behaving that all people have). 她当然嫉妒啦 — 这是人的天性。+of The exact nature of the problem is not clear. 这个问题的确切本质不清楚。of this/that nature I never trouble myself with questions of that nature. 我从不自寻烦恼考虑那种问题。The support being given is of a practical nature. 提供的支援是实用性质的。Any government funding would be temporary in nature. 任何政府拨款都是暂时性的。GOOD-NATURED, HUMAN NATURE