native

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective 1 [onlybeforenoun] connected with the place where you were born and lived for the first years of your life: your native land / country / city * It is a long time since he has visited his native Poland. * Her native language is German. seealsoNATIVESPEAKER 2 [onlybeforenoun] connected with the place where you have always lived or have lived for a long time: native Berliners / Texans 3 [onlybeforenoun] (sometimes offensive) connected with the people who originally lived in a country before other people, especially white people, came there: native peoples / traditions * native art / dance 4 ~ (to...) (of animals and plants) existing naturally in a place: the native plants of America * The tiger is native to India. * When planting trees, stick to native species. * Some animals are in danger because their native habitat is being destroyed. 5 [onlybeforenoun] that you have naturally without having to learn it SYNINNATE: native cunning / wit / intelligence IDIOMS go native (often humorous) (of a person staying in another country) to try to live and behave like the local people: You will be able to meet local people, eat local food and 'go native'. noun 1 a person who was born in a particular country or area: a native of New York / Greece 2 a person who lives in a particular place, especially sb who has lived there a long time SYNLOCAL: You can always tell the difference between the tourists and the natives. * She speaks Italian like a native. 3 (old-fashioned, offensive) a word used in the past by Europeans to describe a person who lived in a place originally, before white people arrived there: disputes between early settlers and natives 4 an animal or a plant that lives or grows naturally in a particular area: The kangaroo is a native of Australia.