innate

Intermediatezipf 3.48

Pronunciation

/ɪˈneɪt/(ih-NAYT)

Part of speech

adjectiveformal

Chinese

天生的；固有的；本能的（非后天习得的）

Definition

Inborn; existing from birth rather than acquired through learning.

Word family

  • innately/ɪˈneɪtli/(adv)天生地

Collocations

  • innate ability
  • innate talent
  • innate desire
  • innate quality

Examples

  1. 1.She has an innate talent for music — she never took lessons. (born with)
  2. 2.The desire to belong is an innate human need. (natural, inborn)

Synonyms

  • inborn/ˈɪnbɔːn/— present from birth
  • inherent/ɪnˈhɪərənt/— existing as a permanent quality
  • instinctive/ɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/— driven by instinct

Etymology

in- (into) + natus (born) — born into you