native
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na·tive
(nā′tĭv)adj.
1.
a. Being such by birth or origin: a native Scot.
b. Being a member of the original inhabitants of a particular place.
c. Of, belonging to, or characteristic of such inhabitants: native dress; the native diet of Polynesia.
d. Being one's own because of the place or circumstances of one's birth: our native land.
2. Originating, growing, or produced in a certain place or region; indigenous: a plant native to Asia.
3. Occurring in nature pure or uncombined with other substances: native copper.
4. Existing in or belonging to one by nature; innate: her native intelligence.
5. Natural, unaltered, or unadorned: native beauty.
6. Biochemistry Of or relating to the naturally occurring conformation of a macromolecule, such as a protein.
7. Archaic Closely related, as by birth or race.
n.
1.
a. One born in or connected with a place by birth: a native of Scotland now living in the United States.
b. One of the original inhabitants or lifelong residents of a place.
2. An animal or plant that originated in a particular place or region.
[Middle English, from Old French natif, from Latin nātīvus, from nātus, past participle of nāscī, to be born; see genə- in Indo-European roots.]
na′tive·ly adv.
na′tive·ness n.
Synonyms: native, indigenous, autochthonous, aboriginal
These adjectives mean of, belonging to, or connected with a specific place or country by virtue of birth or origin. Native implies birth or origin in the specified place: a native New Yorker; the native North American sugar maple. Indigenous specifies that something or someone is native rather than coming or being brought in from elsewhere: an indigenous crop; the Ainu, a people indigenous to the northernmost islands of Japan. Autochthonous applies to what is native and unchanged by outside sources: autochthonous folk melodies. Aboriginal describes what has existed from the beginning; it is often applied to the earliest known inhabitants of a place: the aboriginal population; aboriginal nature.
These adjectives mean of, belonging to, or connected with a specific place or country by virtue of birth or origin. Native implies birth or origin in the specified place: a native New Yorker; the native North American sugar maple. Indigenous specifies that something or someone is native rather than coming or being brought in from elsewhere: an indigenous crop; the Ainu, a people indigenous to the northernmost islands of Japan. Autochthonous applies to what is native and unchanged by outside sources: autochthonous folk melodies. Aboriginal describes what has existed from the beginning; it is often applied to the earliest known inhabitants of a place: the aboriginal population; aboriginal nature.
Usage Note: When used in reference to a member of an indigenous people, the noun native, like its synonym aborigine, can evoke unwelcome stereotypes of primitiveness or cultural backwardness that many people seek to avoid. As is often the case with words that categorize people, the use of the noun is more problematic than the use of the corresponding adjective. Thus a phrase such as the peoples native to northern Europe or the aboriginal inhabitants of the South Pacific is generally preferable to the natives of northern Europe or the aborigines of the South Pacific. · Despite its potentially negative connotations, native is enjoying increasing popularity in ethnonyms such as native Australian and Alaska Native, perhaps due to the wide acceptance of Native American as a term of ethnic pride and respect. These compounds have the further benefit of being equally acceptable when used alone as nouns (a native Australian) or in an adjectival construction (a member of a native Australian people). Of terms formed on this model, those referring to peoples indigenous to the United States generally capitalize native, as in Alaska Native (or the less common Native Alaskan) and Native Hawaiian, while others usually style it lowercase.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
native
(ˈneɪtɪv)adj
1. relating or belonging to a person or thing by virtue of conditions existing at the time of birth: my native city.
2. inherent, natural, or innate: a native strength.
3. born in a specified place: a native German.
4. (when: postpositive, foll by to) originating in a specific place or area: kangaroos are native to Australia.
5. characteristic of or relating to the indigenous inhabitants of a country or area: the native art of the New Guinea Highlands.
6. (Chemistry) (of chemical elements, esp metals) found naturally in the elemental form
7. unadulterated by civilization, artifice, or adornment; natural
8. archaic related by birth or race
9. (Computer Science) computing (of an application, software, etc) designed to run on a specific platform
10. go native (of a settler) to adopt the lifestyle of the local population, esp when it appears less civilized
n
11. (usually foll by of) a person born in a particular place: a native of Geneva.
12. (usually foll by of) a species originating in a particular place or area: the kangaroo is a native of Australia.
13. a member of an indigenous people of a country or area, esp a non-White people, as opposed to colonial settlers and immigrants
14. offensive old-fashioned any non-White
[C14: from Latin nātīvus innate, natural, from nascī to be born]
ˈnatively adv
ˈnativeness n
Usage: Because of its potentially offensive and colonial overtones, native as a noun without qualification is best avoided. It is however acceptable when modified, as in natives of Edinburgh or a native of North Carolina
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
na•tive
(ˈneɪ tɪv)adj.
1. being the place or environment in which a person was born or a thing came into being: one's native land.
2. belonging to a person by birth or to a thing by nature; inherent: native ability.
3. belonging to or originating in a certain place; indigenous: native dress.
4. born in a particular place: a native Chicagoan.
5. of or pertaining to something first acquired by a person: one's native language.
6. remaining or growing in a natural state: the desert's native beauty.
7. originating naturally in a particular country or region, as animals or plants.
8. (of metals) occurring in nature pure or uncombined.
9. Computers.
a. designed for use with a specific type of computer: writing native applications for 32-bit PCs.
b. internal to a specific application program: to view the file in its native format.
10. Archaic. closely related, as by birth.
n. 11. Sometimes Offensive. one of the people indigenous to a place, esp. as distinguished from foreigners, colonizers, etc.: the natives of Chile.
12. a person born in a particular place or country: a native of Ohio.
13. an animal, plant, etc., that is indigenous to a particular region.
Idioms: go native, to imitate the behavior of a surrounding culture, esp. behavior that seems simple or natural.
[1325–75; < Middle French < Latin nātīvus inborn, natural, from nāt(us) (past participle of nāscī to be born)]
na′tive•ly, adv.
na′tive•ness, n.
usage: Definition 19 is sometimes taken to be offensive because of colonialist and racial overtones. However, definition 20 is a neutral usage.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  native - an indigenous person who was born in a particular place; "the art of the natives of the northwest coast"; "the Canadian government scrapped plans to tax the grants to aboriginal college students"individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do" Levantine - (formerly) a native or inhabitant of the Levant Mauritian - a native or inhabitant of Mauritius Filipino - a native or inhabitant of the Philippines Russian - a native or inhabitant of Russia Seychellois - a native or inhabitant of Seychelles |
| 2. | native - a person born in a particular place or country; "he is a native of Brazil" | |
| 3. | native - indigenous plants and animals | |
| Adj. | 1. | native - characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin; "the native North American sugar maple"; "many native artists studied abroad" |
| 2. | native - belonging to one by birth; "my native land"; "one's native language" | |
| 3. | native - characteristic of or relating to people inhabiting a region from the beginning; "native Americans"; "the aboriginal peoples of Australia" nonnative - not being or composed of aborigines; "the nonnative population of South Africa" | |
| 4. | native - as found in nature in the elemental form; "native copper" pure - free of extraneous elements of any kind; "pure air and water"; "pure gold"; "pure primary colors"; "the violin's pure and lovely song"; "pure tones"; "pure oxygen" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
native
adjective
2. indigenous, local, aboriginal (often offensive), autochthonous a spokeswoman for native peoples around the world
3. mother, indigenous, vernacular French is not my native tongue.
4. domestic, local, indigenous, home-made, home-grown, home Several native plants also provide edible berries.
5. original, natural, built-in, inherited, inherent, hereditary, instinctive, innate, intrinsic, endemic, ingrained, congenital, inveterate, inbred, immanent, hard-wired Her conversation revealed no education but much native wit and shrewdness.
noun
1. inhabitant, national, resident, citizen, countryman, aborigine (often offensive), dweller He was a native of France.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
native
adjective1. Possessed at birth:
2. Forming an essential element, as arising from the basic structure of an individual:
4. Existing, born, or produced in a land or region:
5. In a primitive state; not domesticated or cultivated; produced by nature:
6. In a natural state and still not prepared for use:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
أصْلي، مَحَلّيأهليٌّفِطْريقَوْمي، تابِع لذلك الشَّعْبمن السُّكّان الأصْلِيين
rodnýdomorodecrodákrodilýmístní
indfødtlokalmedfødten indfødtføde-
alkuasukasalkuperäinenalueellinenpaikallinensynnyin-
domaći
belföldibennszülötthazaihonosőshonos
frumbyggiheimamaîurinnfæddurmeîfæddur, eîlislægurmóîur-
出生地の
태어난
čiabuvisčionykštisgimtasisindėnaskilęs iš
dzimtaisvietejais
rodákrodenýrodný
domačinrojeni govorecrojsten
inföddinhemsk
พื้นเมือง
thuộc nơi sinh
native
[ˈneɪtɪv]A. ADJ
B. N
1. (referring to birth or nationality) → nativo/a m/f
he speaks German like a native → habla alemán como un nativo
he was a native of Seville → nació en Sevilla
he speaks German like a native → habla alemán como un nativo
he was a native of Seville → nació en Sevilla
2. (= member of indigenous people) (o.f. freq pej) → indígena mf
3. (= plant, animal) to be a native of → ser originario de
C. CPD native country, native land N → patria f
native language N → lengua f materna
native son N (liter) → hijo m predilecto
native speaker N → hablante mf nativo/a
a Spanish native speaker; a native speaker of Spanish → un hablante nativo de español
native tongue N = native language
native language N → lengua f materna
native son N (liter) → hijo m predilecto
native speaker N → hablante mf nativo/a
a Spanish native speaker; a native speaker of Spanish → un hablante nativo de español
native tongue N = native language
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
native
[ˈneɪtɪv] n
(= inhabitant) [country, town] → natif/ive m/f
a native of Russia → une personne originaire or native de Russie
to be a native of Canada → être originaire or natif du Canada
a native of Russia → une personne originaire or native de Russie
to be a native of Canada → être originaire or natif du Canada
adj
[person] → de souche
He's a native Californian → C'est un Californien de souche. native country, native language, native speaker, native tongue
He's a native Californian → C'est un Californien de souche. native country, native language, native speaker, native tongue
[species, plant, animal] → endémique
traditional native species such as oak, beech and birch → les espèces endémiques traditionnelles, telles que chênes, hêtres et bouleaux
to be native to [+ country, area] [plant, animal] → être endémique de
These are the only lilies native to Great Britain → Ce sont les seuls lis endémiques de Grande-Bretagne.
traditional native species such as oak, beech and birch → les espèces endémiques traditionnelles, telles que chênes, hêtres et bouleaux
to be native to [+ country, area] [plant, animal] → être endémique de
These are the only lilies native to Great Britain → Ce sont les seuls lis endémiques de Grande-Bretagne.
[ability] → inné(e)Native American
n → Indien(ne) m/f d'Amérique
adj → amérindien(ne)native country n → pays m natal
my native country → mon pays natalnative language n → langue f natale
English is not their native language → L'anglais n'est pas leur langue natale.native speaker n → locuteur/euse m/f natif/ive
a French native speaker, a native speaker of French → une personne de langue maternelle française
an English native speaker, a native speaker of English → une personne de langue maternelle anglaisenative tongue n → langue f natale
my native country → mon pays natalnative language n → langue f natale
English is not their native language → L'anglais n'est pas leur langue natale.native speaker n → locuteur/euse m/f natif/ive
a French native speaker, a native speaker of French → une personne de langue maternelle française
an English native speaker, a native speaker of English → une personne de langue maternelle anglaisenative tongue n → langue f natale
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
native
adj
product, costume, customs, habits, plants → einheimisch; (= associated with natives) → der Eingeborenen; population → eingeboren; native country → Heimatland nt; native town/city → Heimatstadt f; native language or tongue → Muttersprache f; the native inhabitants or people → die Einheimischen pl; (in colonial context) → die Eingeborenen pl; (= original inhabitants) → die Ureinwohner pl; native tribe → Eingeborenenstamm m; the native habitat of the tiger → die Heimat or der natürliche Lebensraum des Tigers; my native Germany → mein Heimatland nt → or meine Heimat Deutschland; his native Berlin → seine Heimatstadt or Vaterstadt Berlin; a native German → ein gebürtiger Deutscher, eine gebürtige Deutsche; California’s most famous native son → der berühmteste Sohn Kaliforniens; an animal/tree native to India → ein in Indien beheimatetes Tier/beheimateter Baum; to go native → wie die Eingeborenen leben
(= inborn) wit, quality → angeboren
metal → gediegen
n
(= person) → Einheimische(r) mf; (in colonial contexts) → Eingeborene(r) mf; (= original inhabitant) → Ureinwohner(in) m(f); a native of Britain/Germany → ein gebürtiger Brite/Deutscher, eine gebürtige Britin/Deutsche
to be a native of … (plant, animal) → in … beheimatet sein
native
:native-born
adj attr → gebürtig
native country
n → Heimatland nt, → Vaterland nt
native land
n → Vaterland nt
native speaker
n → Muttersprachler(in) m(f); I’m not a native of English → Englisch ist nicht meine Muttersprache; he speaks English like a native → er spricht Englisch, als wäre es seine Muttersprache
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
native
[ˈneɪtɪv]1. adj
a. (country, town) → natale, natio/a, nativo/a; (dialect) → nativo/a
he's a native Italian speaker → è di madrelingua italiana
native language → lingua materna, madrelingua
native land → paese m natio, patria
he's a native Italian speaker → è di madrelingua italiana
native language → lingua materna, madrelingua
native land → paese m natio, patria
b. (innate, ability) → innato/a, naturale
c. (indigenous, animal, plant) → indigeno/a, originario/a; (product, resources) → del luogo, del paese
native to → originario/a di
Britain's native red squirrel → lo scoiattolo rosso originario della Gran Bretagna
native to → originario/a di
Britain's native red squirrel → lo scoiattolo rosso originario della Gran Bretagna
e. (offensive) (non-Western) → indigeno/a
2. n
a. (of birth, nationality) → abitante m/f del luogo
he's a native of Japan → è giapponese di nascita
he's a native of Salzburg → è originario di Salisburgo
he speaks Italian like a native → parla l'italiano come un madrelingua
he's a native of Japan → è giapponese di nascita
he's a native of Salzburg → è originario di Salisburgo
he speaks Italian like a native → parla l'italiano come un madrelingua
b. (offensive) (esp in colonies) → indigeno/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
native
(ˈneitiv) adjective1. where one was born. my native land.
2. belonging to that place; local. the native customs/art of Brazil; This animal/plant is native to Australia.
3. belonging by race to a country. a native Englishman.
4. belonging to a person naturally. native intelligence.
noun1. a person born in a certain place. a native of Scotland; a native of London.
2. one of the original inhabitants of a country eg before the arrival of explorers, immigrants etc. Columbus thought the natives of America were Indians.
Native ˈAmerican noun American Indian.
native ˈlanguage/ˈtongue nounMy native language is Spanish, but I also speak English and German.
native speaker a person who has spoken a particular language ever since he was able to speak at all. I am a native speaker of English; a native Spanish speaker.
native to (of plants and animals) belonging originally to a particular place. These birds are native to Australia.
the Nativity (nəˈtivəti) the birth of Christ.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
native
→ أهليٌّ rodný indfødt Heimat- γηγενής natal synnyin- natif domaći nativo 出生地の 태어난 geboorte- innfødt rodzimy nativo родной infödd พื้นเมือง yerli thuộc nơi sinh 本国的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
native
n. nativo-a, [indigenous] indígena;
a. nativo-a, autóctono-a;
___ born → nacido-a en; oriundo-a de;
___ tongue → lengua materna.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012