natural history

American  

noun

1. the sciences, as botany, mineralogy, or zoology, dealing with the study of all objects in nature: used especially in reference to the beginnings of these sciences in former times.

2. the study of these sciences.

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natural history British  

noun

1. the study of animals and plants in the wild state

2. the study of all natural phenomena

3. the sum of these phenomena in a given place or at a given time

   the natural history of Iran

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natural history Scientific  

1. The study and description of living things and natural objects, especially their origins, evolution, and relationships to one another. Natural history includes the sciences of zoology, mineralogy, geology, and paleontology.

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Other Word Forms

• natural historian noun

Etymology

Origin of natural history

First recorded in 1560–70

Example Sentences

To teach himself to paint, he copied from old masters in the Louvre and from plants and taxidermic animals in Paris’s natural history museums.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Based on what we know about their natural history and lifestyles, they're not going to be able to disperse to different coastal dunes to reproduce and 'mix' with each other," Jochim said.

From Science Daily

At least four French museums - including the Louvre and the natural history museum - have been robbed in recent months, according to media reports.

From BBC

Writer, broadcaster and naturalist, Sir David's career spans more than 70 years during which his voice has become synonymous with natural history programmes both in the UK and across the English-speaking world.

From BBC

The walls of the restaurant are crowded full of condor images and artifacts — “like you’re having dinner in your favorite natural history museum,” McBride said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• environment
• landscape
• view
• world