native

na|tive1 [ `neıtıv ] adjective only before noun **

1. ) living in a particular country, area, or city since birth:

My wife's a native New Yorker, but I'm from Atlanta.

Monique returns to her native France every summer.

native land (=the country you were born in): After a long stay in England he's back in his native land.

a ) your native language or TONGUE is the first language you learn, usually in the country where you were born

b ) native abilities or qualities are those you have had since birth:

Pupils are encouraged to develop their native skills.

2. ) relating to the first people to live in an area:

The territory was divided between the Burgundians and the native population.

3. ) native plants or animals have always existed in a place:

native to: Elephants are native to Africa and Asia.

native species: The larger frogs are a native species.

a ) relating to the place where a plant or animal has always lived:

native habitat

go native

to start living like local people when you are in another country. This phrase shows that you do not approve of this behavior, or think that it is funny.

native

na|tive 2 [ `neıtıv ] noun count *

someone who was born in a particular place:

native of: He's a native of New Orleans but now lives in Miami.

a. someone living in a particular place, especially for a long time

b. the natives HUMOROUS used for referring to people who live in a place that you are visiting

c. OFFENSIVE an offensive word for someone belonging to a group who lived in a place before Europeans arrived there

the natives are getting/growing restless OFTEN HUMOROUS

used for saying that a group of people are getting impatient and may cause trouble if someone does not take action