■ adjective
1》 existing in or derived from nature; not made, caused by, or processed by humans.
↘having had a minimum of processing or preservative treatment.
↘(of fabric) unbleached and undyed; off-white.
2》 in accordance with nature; normal.
↘relaxed and unaffected.
↘inevitable: the ~ choice.
↘(of law or justice) based on innate moral sense.
3》 (of a parent or child) related by blood.
↘ chiefly archaic illegitimate.
4》 Music (of a note) not sharpened or flattened.
↘(of a brass instrument) having no valves and able to play only the notes of the harmonic series above a fundamental note.
↘relating to the notes and intervals of the harmonic series.
5》 Christian Theology relating to human or physical nature as distinct from the spiritual or super~ realm.
6》 Bridge (of a bid) straightforwardly reflecting one's holding of cards. Often contrasted with conventional or artificial .
■ noun
1》 a person with an innate gift or talent for a particular task or activity.
2》 Music a ~ note, or a sign () denoting one when a previous sign or the key signature would otherwise demand a sharp or a flat.
↘any of the longer, lower keys on a keyboard instrument that are normally white.
3》 an off-white colour.
4》 a hand of cards, throw of dice, or other result which wins immediately.
5》 Fishing an insect or other small creature used as bait, rather than an artificial imitation.
6》 archaic a person born with impaired intelligence.
Derivatives
~ness noun