Search results for 'native':

native adj 1 being or belonging to the place of one's upbringing. 2 born a citizen of a particular place • a native Italian. 3 belonging naturally to one; inborn or innate • native wit. 4 having a particular language as one's first, or mother, tongue • my native tongue. 5 originating in a particular place • native to China. 6 belonging to the original inhabitants of a country • native Balinese music. 7 natural; in a natural state. 8 said of metals: a occurring naturally as a mineral, ie not manufactured; b found naturally uncombined as an element, not as eg an ore. noun 1 someone born in a certain place. 2 a plant or animal originating in a particular place. 3 often derog one of the original inhabitants of a place as distinct from later, especially European, settlers. natively adverb. nativeness noun. go native see under go¹.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: from Latin nativus natural, from nasci to be born.