Na·tive a.
 1. Arising by birth; having an origin; born. [Obs.]
    Anaximander's opinion is, that the gods are native, rising and vanishing again in long periods of times.   --Cudworth.
 2. Of or pertaining to one's birth; natal; belonging to the place or the circumstances in which one is born; -- opposed to foreign; as, native land, language, color, etc.
 3. Born in the region in which one lives; as, a native inhabitant, race; grown or originating in the region where used or sold; not foreign or imported; as, native oysters, or strawberries.  In the latter sense, synonymous with domestic.
 4. Original; constituting the original substance of anything; as, native dust.
 5. Conferred by birth; derived from origin; born with one; inherent; inborn; not acquired; as, native genius, cheerfulness, wit, simplicity, rights, intelligence, etc.  Having the same meaning as congenital, but typically used for positive qualities, whereas congenital may be used for negative qualities.  See also congenital
    Courage is native to you.   --Jowett (Thucyd.).
 6. Naturally related; cognate; connected (with). [R.]
 the head is not more native to the heart, . . .
 Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.   --Shak.
 7. Min. (a) Found in nature uncombined with other elements; as, native silver, copper, gold. (b) Found in nature; not artificial; as native sodium chloride.
 Native American party. See under American, a.
 Native bear Zool., the koala.
 Native bread Bot., a large underground fungus, of Australia (Mylitta australis), somewhat resembling a truffle, but much larger.
 Native devil. Zool. Same as Tasmanian devil, under Devil.
 Native hen Zool., an Australian rail (Tribonyx Mortierii).
 Native pheasant. Zool. See Leipoa.
 Native rabbit Zool., an Australian marsupial (Perameles lagotis) resembling a rabbit in size and form.
 Native sloth Zool., the koala.
 Native thrush Zool., an Australian singing bird (Pachycephala olivacea); -- called also thickhead.
 Native turkey Zool., the Australian bustard (Choriotis australis); -- called also bebilya.
 Syn: -- Natural; natal; original; congenital.
 Usage: -- Native, Natural, Natal. natural refers to the nature of a thing, or that which springs therefrom; native, to one's birth or origin; as, a native country, language, etc.; natal, to the circumstances of one's birth; as, a natal day, or star. Native talent is that which is inborn; natural talent is that which springs from the structure of the mind. Native eloquence is the result of strong innate emotion; natural eloquence is opposed to that which is studied or artificial.
 Ko·a·la n. A tailless furry marsupial (Phascolarctos cinereus), found in Australia. The female carries her young on the back of her neck. Called also Australian bear, koala bear, native bear, and native sloth.  The koala lives almost all of its life in trees, moves sluggishly like a sloth, and eats eucalyptus leaves almost exclusively.
 ◄ ►
 Sloth n.
 1. Slowness; tardiness.
 These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor
 This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome.   --Shak.
 2. Disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness; laziness; idleness.
    [They] change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth.   --Milton.
    Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears.   --Franklin.
 3. Zool. Any one of several species of arboreal edentates constituting the family Bradypodidae, and the suborder Tardigrada. They have long exserted limbs and long prehensile claws.  Both jaws are furnished with teeth (see Illust. of Edentata), and the ears and tail are rudimentary. They inhabit South and Central America and Mexico.
 Note: ☞ The three-toed sloths belong to the genera Bradypus and Arctopithecus, of which several species have been described. They have three toes on each foot. The best-known species are collared sloth (Bradypus tridactylus), and the ai (Arctopitheus ai). The two-toed sloths, consisting the genus Cholopus, have two toes on each fore foot and three on each hind foot. The best-known is the unau (Cholopus didactylus) of South America. See Unau. Another species (Cholopus Hoffmanni) inhabits Central America.
    Various large extinct terrestrial edentates, such as Megatherium and Mylodon, are often called sloths.
 Australian sloth, or  Native sloth Zool., the koala.
 Sloth animalcule Zool., a tardigrade.
 Sloth bear Zool., a black or brown long-haired bear (Melursus ursinus, or Melursus labiatus), native of India and Ceylon; -- called also aswail, labiated bear, and jungle bear.  It is easily tamed and can be taught many tricks.
 Sloth monkey Zool., a loris.