Word Direct Answers

What does "native" mean?

Native: Of or pertaining to one's birth; natal; belonging to the place or the circumstances in which one is born; -- opposed to foreign; as, native land, language, color, etc.

Additional senses

  1. 2.Born in the region in which one lives; as, a native inhabitant, race; grown or originating in the region where used or sold; not foreign or imported; as, native oysters, or strawberries.
  2. 3.Original; constituting the original substance of anything; as, native dust. Milton.
  3. 4.Conferred by birth; derived from origin; born with one; inherent; inborn; not acquired; as, native genius, cheerfulness, simplicity, rights, etc. Courage is native to you. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
  4. 5.Naturally related; cognate; connected (with). [R.] the head is not more native to the heart, ... Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. Shak.
  5. 6.(Min.) (a) Found in nature uncombined with other elements; as, native silver. (b) Found in nature; not artificial; as native sodium chloride. Native American party. See under American, a. -- Native bear (Zoöl.), the koala. -- Native bread (Bot.), a large underground fungus, of Australia (Mylitta australis), somewhat resembling a truffle, but much larger. -- Native devil. (Zoöl.) Same as Tasmanian devil, under Devil. -- Native hen (Zoöl.), an Australian rail (Tribonyx Mortierii). -- Native pheasant. (Zoöl.) See Leipoa. -- Native rabbit (Zoöl.), an Australian marsupial (Perameles lagotis) resembling a rabbit in size and form. -- Native sloth (Zoöl.), the koala. -- Native thrush (Zoöl.), an Australian singing bird (Pachycephala olivacea); -- called also thickhead. -- Native turkey (Zoöl.), the Australian bustard (Choriotis australis); -- called also bebilya. -- Native, Natural, Natal. natural refers to the nature of a thing, or that which springs therefrom; native, to one's birth or origin; as, a native country, language, etc.; natal, to the circumstances of one's birth; as, a natal day, or star. Native talent is that which is inborn; natural talent is that which springs from the structure of the mind. Native eloquence is the result of strong innate emotion; natural eloquence is opposed to that which is studied or artifical.
  6. 7.One who, or that which, is born in a place or country referred to; a denizen by birth; an animal, a fruit, or vegetable, produced in a certain region; as, a native of France.
  7. 8.(Stock Breeding) Any of the live stock found in a region, as distinguished from such as belong to pure and distinct imported breeds. [U.S.]

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