Meaning & use
natural resource
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Meanings
nouncountable
A material or energy source from nature that people use, such as water, minerals, wood, or wind.
Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural: natural resources. It can be used before another noun: natural resource management.
Patterns
- a natural resource
- natural resources such as water
- use natural resources
- protect natural resources
The country is rich in natural resources like oil and timber.
Clean water is a natural resource that many people take for granted.
We need to use natural resources in a way that does not harm the planet.
nouncountabletechnical
A resource that can be replaced naturally, such as sunlight or wind, or one that cannot, such as coal.
Grammar: Often used in the plural with a modifier: renewable natural resources, nonrenewable natural resources.
Patterns
- renewable natural resources
- nonrenewable natural resources
- deplete natural resources
Solar and wind are renewable natural resources.
Coal and oil are nonrenewable natural resources; once they are gone, they are gone.
The report compares renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.
Word forms
| plural | natural resources |
|---|
Common combinations
- rich in natural resources
- The region is rich in natural resources, especially minerals.
- natural resource management
- She studied natural resource management at university.
- exploit natural resources
- Companies came to exploit the country's natural resources.
- conserve natural resources
- Simple habits at home can conserve natural resources.
- natural resource base
- The country's natural resource base is limited.
Synonyms and how they differ
- raw material
- A raw material is something used to make a product, like wood for paper; a natural resource is the broader term for anything useful from nature, including energy sources.
- resource
- Resource is the general word for anything useful, including money or time; natural resource is only for things from nature.
Word family
- natural adjective
- Existing in nature, not made by people.
- resourceful adjective
- Good at finding ways to solve problems.
Commonly confused: natural resource or natural reserve?
natural resource vs natural reserve
A natural reserve is a protected area of land for wildlife; a natural resource is a material or energy source people use.
Practice
Which of these is a natural resource?
Choose one answer.
Sunlight comes from nature and people use it, so it is a natural resource. A plastic bottle is made by people, so it is not a natural resource.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “natural resource”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.