word-vault

{ "term": "nature", "partOfSpeech": "noun", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a2", "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "all the plants, animals and things that exist in the universe that are not made by people", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Take time to appreciate the beauties of nature." }, { "text": "man-made substances not found in nature" }, { "text": "A lot of nature conservation is about protecting habitats." }, { "text": "He believed in spending half an hour each day to relax and commune with nature." }, { "text": "His love of nature was expressed through his wildlife paintings." }, { "text": "It's highly unlikely that this mound was produced by nature." }, { "text": "We appreciate beauty in nature." }, { "text": "people who live in the country and are close to nature" }, { "text": "White phosphorus is so reactive that it is not found in nature." } ], "topics": ["The environment"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["Mother"], "verb + nature": ["commune with", "be back to", "get back to"], "nature + verb": [ "endow (somebody with) something", "give somebody something", "provide (somebody with) something" ], "nature + noun": ["conservation", "preserve", "reserve"], "preposition": ["close to nature", "in nature"], "phrases": [ "the forces of nature", "the laws of nature", "a love of nature" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "the way that things happen in the physical world when it is not controlled by people", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The **forces of nature** are constantly reshaping our world." }, { "text": "It is impossible to change the **laws of nature**." }, { "text": "Her illness was Nature's way of telling her to do less." }, { "text": "Is genius the result of **nature or nurture**?" }, { "text": "It seemed against the laws of nature that such a creature could even exist." }, { "text": "Nature had endowed her with exceptional vitality." }, { "text": "Nature remains indifferent to human crises." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["Mother"], "verb + nature": ["commune with", "be back to", "get back to"], "nature + verb": [ "endow (somebody with) something", "give somebody something", "provide (somebody with) something" ], "nature + noun": ["conservation", "preserve", "reserve"], "preposition": ["close to nature", "in nature"], "phrases": [ "the forces of nature", "the laws of nature", "a love of nature" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "the usual way that a person or an animal behaves that is part of their character", "sensetop": "by natureit is not in somebody's nature to do somethingit is against somebody's nature to do something", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "She is very sensitive by nature.", "contextForm": "by nature" }, { "text": "It's not in his nature to be unkind.", "contextForm": "it is not in somebody's nature to do something" }, { "text": "It was against her nature to tell lies.", "contextForm": "it is against somebody's nature to do something" }, { "text": "We appealed to his **better nature** *(= his kindness)*." }, { "text": "It's not in his nature to complain." }, { "text": "He had a vicious side to his nature." }, { "text": "He has an inquisitive nature." }, { "text": "He's not by nature an inquisitive person." }, { "text": "People are always taking advantage of her good nature." }, { "text": "There was no point appealing to her better nature." }, { "text": "the expressive part of his nature" } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["basic", "essential", "fundamental"], "verb + nature": ["have", "reveal", "conceal"], "preposition": [ "by nature", "concerning the nature of", "considering the nature of" ], "phrases": [ "by its very nature", "the extent and nature of something", "an insight into the nature of something" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "the basic qualities of a thing", "sensetop": "in natureby its nature", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "the changing nature of society" }, { "text": "It's difficult to define the exact nature of the problem." }, { "text": "His work explores the nature of the mother-child relationship." }, { "text": "My work is very specialized in nature.", "contextForm": "in nature" }, { "text": "The future **by its very nature** is uncertain.", "contextForm": "by its nature" }, { "text": "The film reflects the fickle nature of love and how relationships lose their charm." }, { "text": "Despite the serious nature of his wounds, he stood up and walked." }, { "text": "Are you aware of the nature of the risks involved?" }, { "text": "Because of the detailed nature of the work, I have to use a very fine brush." }, { "text": "By its very nature a secret service is not open to public inspection." }, { "text": "Given the nature of this matter, I am inclined to think it should be managed by you personally." }, { "text": "His theory provides a remarkable insight into the nature of the British constitution." }, { "text": "I'm not clear about the exact nature of their relationship." }, { "text": "The Buddhist goal is to realize the true nature of the world." }, { "text": "The gentle lower slopes belie the true nature of the mountain." }, { "text": "The method employed will depend on the nature of the task." }, { "text": "The parties would not reveal the exact nature of the dispute." }, { "text": "The victim has not been identified because of the sensitive nature of the case." }, { "text": "Their strategy was essentially political in nature." }, { "text": "This new information does not change the nature of our findings." }, { "text": "We need to understand the true extent and nature of the problem." }, { "text": "a debate concerning the nature of violence" }, { "text": "the dual nature of man as a physical and spiritual being" }, { "text": "the subjective nature of an odour" }, { "text": "the unsatisfactory nature of the meeting" } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["basic", "essential", "fundamental"], "verb + nature": ["have", "reveal", "conceal"], "preposition": [ "by nature", "concerning the nature of", "considering the nature of" ], "phrases": [ "by its very nature", "the extent and nature of something", "an insight into the nature of something" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "a type or kind of something", "sensetop": "of a… nature", "examples": [ { "text": "His books were mainly of a scientific nature.", "contextForm": "of a… nature" }, { "text": "Don't worry about things of that nature." }, { "text": "Decisions of this nature often take a long time." }, { "text": "matters of a routine nature" }, { "text": "Their problems are of an economic nature." }, { "text": "The legal concept of insanity is of a different nature from the medical." }, { "text": "They define sexual harassment as unwanted conduct of a sexual nature." }, { "text": "the international nature of the business" } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["basic", "essential", "fundamental"], "verb + nature": ["have", "reveal", "conceal"], "preposition": [ "by nature", "concerning the nature of", "considering the nature of" ], "phrases": [ "by its very nature", "the extent and nature of something", "an insight into the nature of something" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "having the type of character or quality mentioned", "examples": [ { "text": "a good-natured man" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "not natural; not moral", "examples": [ { "text": "Murder is a crime against nature." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "(to return to) a simple kind of life in the country, away from cities", "examples": [ { "text": "When you’re camping, you can get back to nature." }, { "text": "We built our house in the country because we wanted to get back to nature." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "the need to go to the toilet", "labels": "(humorous)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "a person with a very strong personality who is full of energy, very determined and difficult for others to resist", "examples": [ { "text": "Gerard is a force of nature, continually pursuing his target when everyone else is ready to give up." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "the power of the wind, rain, etc., especially when it causes damage or harm", "examples": [ { "text": "They were fighting a losing battle against the forces of nature." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "similar to something; a type of something; in the style of something", "examples": [ { "text": "His speech was in the nature of an apology." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "in the way that things usually happen", "examples": [ { "text": "In the nature of things, young people often rebel against their parents." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to allow natural processes to happen, without trying to stop or change them (used especially in the context of illness)", "examples": [ { "text": "The midwife must judge when to let nature take its course and when to intervene." }, { "text": "When the dog responded so badly to the treatment, we decided to let nature take its course." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/ˈneɪtʃə(r)/", "audio": "na/nature/nature__gb_2.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/ˈneɪtʃər/", "audio": "na/nature/nature__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Middle English (denoting the physical power of a person): from Old French, from Latin natura ‘birth, nature, quality’, from nat- ‘born’, from the verb nasci." }