nature as in the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

• "it is the nature of fire to burn"
• "the true nature of jealousy"

nature as in a causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe

• "the laws of nature"
• "nature has seen to it that men are stronger than women"

nature as in the natural physical world including plants and animals and landscapes etc.

• "they tried to preserve nature as they found it"

nature as in the complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions

• "it is his nature to help others"

nature as in a particular type of thing

• "problems of this type are very difficult to solve"
• "he's interested in trains and things of that nature"
• "matters of a personal nature"