natal

[ neyt-l ]

/ ˈneɪt l /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR natal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to a person's birth: celebrating one's natal day.

presiding over or affecting a person at birth: natal influences.

(of places) native: nostalgia for one's natal town.

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Nearby words

Origin of natal

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin nātālis of, belonging to one's birth, natal, equivalent to nāt(us) an offspring (variant of gnātus, past participle of nāscī to be born) + -ālis -al¹

Natal

[ nuh-tal, -tahl; for 2 also Portuguese nuh-tawl ]

/ nəˈtæl, -ˈtɑl; for 2 also Portuguese nəˈtɔl /

noun

a province in the E part of the Republic of South Africa. 35,284 sq. mi. (91,886 sq. km). Capital: Pietermaritzburg.

a seaport in E Brazil.

Related formsNa·tal·i·an, adjective, noun

Rio Grande do Norte

[ ree-oo grahn-di doo nawr-ti ]

/ ˈri ʊ ˈgrɑ̃ dɪ dʊ ˈnɔr tɪ /

noun

a state in E Brazil. 20,464 sq. mi. (53,000 sq. km). Capital: Natal.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for natal

“Hence, there might be a net benefit, at least to some females, of breeding within the natal group,” the researchers speculate.
Mongooses, Meerkats, and Ants, Oh My! Why Some Animals Keep Mating All in the Family|Helen Thompson|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With the Moon and Jupiter opposing your natal Sun, weed out extra work, curb spending, and limit social interaction.
What the Stars Hold for Your Week|Starsky + Cox|July 23, 2011|DAILY BEAST
With Jupiter opposing your natal Sun, there is a pressing need for a significant other in your life.
What the Stars Hold For Your Week|Starsky + Cox|July 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The day was to prove intensely hot, a sign, at this period of the Natal summer, of the approaching rains.
History of the War in South Africa 1899-1902 v. 1 (of 4)|Sir Frederick Maurice.

Our next port of call was Zanzibar, whence we proceeded to Durban, in Natal.
The First Mate|Harry Collingwood
In 1880 he secured the appointment of a harbour board for Natal, and was himself made chairman.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 7|Various
It is probable, however, that it would require a show of force before the Natal natives would consent to budge.
Cetywayo and his White Neighbours|H. Rider Haggard
To the southward of the Trades, off the coast of Natal, a short but severe gale from the south-west was encountered.
The Last Voyage|Lady (Annie Allnutt) Brassey

British Dictionary definitions for natal

natal

/ (ˈneɪtəl) /

adjective

of or relating to birth

a rare word for native natal instincts

Word Origin for natal

C14: from Latin nātālis of one's birth, from nātus, from nascī to be born

adjective

anatomy of or relating to the buttocks

Word Origin for natal

from New Latin nates buttocks

Natal

noun

(nəˈtæl) a former province of E South Africa, between the Drakensberg and the Indian Ocean: set up as a republic by the Boers in 1838; became a British colony in 1843; joined South Africa in 1910; replaced by KwaZulu-Natal in 1994. Capital: Pietermaritzburg

(Portuguese naˈtal) a port in NE Brazil, capital of Rio Grande do Norte state, near the mouth of the Potengi River. Pop: 1 049 000 (2005 est)

Rio Grande do Norte

/ (Portuguese ˈriu ˈɡrəndi du ˈnɔrti) /

noun

a state of NE Brazil, on the Atlantic: much of it is semiarid plateau. Capital: Natal. Pop: 2 852 784 (2002). Area: 53 014 sq km (20 469 sq miles)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for natal

natal

adj.

late 14c., "of or pertaining to birthdays," from Latin natalis "pertaining to birth or origin," from natus, past participle of nasci "to be born" (Old Latin gnasci; see genus).

Medicine definitions for natal

natal

[ nāt′l ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or accompanying birth.

Of or relating to the buttocks.