native

native [nāt′iv]

adj.

[ME natyf < MFr natif < L nativus < natus, born: see NATURE]

1. inborn or innate rather than acquired

2. belonging to a locality or country by birth, production, or growth; indigenous [a native Bostonian, native industry, native plants]

3. related to one as, or in connection with, the place of one's birth or origin [one's native land, one's native language]

4. simple; natural; free from affectation

5. as found in nature; natural and not refined, adorned, or altered by man

6. occurring in a pure state in nature [native gold]

7. of or characteristic of the natives, or indigenous inhabitants, of a place

8. [N-] short for NATIVE AMERICAN [Native land rights]

n.

1. a person born in the place or country indicated

2.

a) an original or indigenous inhabitant of a region, as distinguished from an invader, explorer, colonist, etc.

b) an indigenous plant or animal

3. a permanent resident, as distinguished from a temporary resident or visitor

SYN.- CITIZEN

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go native

to adopt the mode of life, often one less complicated, of the native inhabitants

natively

adv.

nativeness

n.

SYN.- NATIVE applies to a person born, or thing originating, in a certain place or country [a native Italian, native fruits ]; INDIGENOUS, which also suggests natural origin in a particular region, is applied to races or species rather than to individuals [the potato is indigenous to South America ]; ABORIGINAL applies to the earliest known inhabitants (or, rarely, animals or plants) of a region [the Indians are the aboriginal Americans ]; ENDEMIC, applied esp. to plants and diseases, implies prevalence in or restriction to a particular region [typhus is endemic in various countries ] -ANT. ALIEN, FOREIGN