native

I UK [ˈneɪtɪv] / US adjective [only before noun] **

1)

a) 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 that you were born in):

After a long stay in England he's back in his native land.

b) your native language or native tongue is the first language that you learn, usually in the country where you were born

2) native abilities or qualities are those that you have had since birth

Pupils are encouraged to develop their native skills.

3) relating to the first people to live in an area

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

4)

a) 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.

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

native habitat

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- go native

II UK [ˈneɪtɪv] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "native":
singular native plural natives
*

1) someone who was born in a particular place

native of:

He's a native of Edinburgh but now lives in London.

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

2) offensive an offensive word for someone belonging to a group who lived in a place before Europeans arrived there

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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