native用作名词时意思是“土生土长的人”,常用复数形式来表示“土著人”。

His Chinese is so good that he could pass for a native.他的汉语如此好以至于别人误以为他是中国人。
After living among the natives for twenty years, the painter forgot his own language and civilized ways of life.那位画家在当地人群中生活了20年之后忘了自己的语言并忘记了文明的生活方式。
The natives look down their noses at foreigners.这些本国人看不起外国人。
The election committee itself was formed with four women members who were natives.选举委员会由四名女委员组成,她们都是本地人。
The natives send news over long distances by beating out a message on a hollow log.土著人用敲击空心木杆的办法向远方传送消息。
The natives used to hammer the metal into arrowheads using heavy stones.土著人以前总是用沉重的石头把这种金属锤打成箭头。

［同义词］ adj.  domestic, genuine, instinctive n.  citizen, inhabitant, national, resident
［反义词］ n.  foreigner, outsider, stranger

1.native作“出生地的,故乡的,本国的”解时,在句中只能充当定语。
2.native作“当地(人)的”解时,主要指某人原出生地或某物原产地,在句中用作表语时,常与介词ｔｏ连用。
3.native还可作“天生的”解,用作表语时,后常接介词to。

go native
(移民、游客)接受当地人的(而放弃自己的)风俗习惯 adopt the customs of the local people and abandon those of one's own
He's emigrated to the USA and gone completely native.他已移居美国,完全成了美国人。
We did not recognize our son when we went to see him in South America, he'd gone completely native, and even his speech was difficult to understand.我们到南美去看儿子,不认识他了,他过的生活和当地人一样,连他讲的话,我们也不易听懂。

用作定语
▲～+n.
French is not my native language.法语不是我的母语。
This dictionary is specially intended for people whose native tongue is not English.这部辞典是专为母语不是英语的人们所编写的。
It is a severe punishment to be exiled from one's native land.从本国流放异国他乡是一种严厉的惩罚。
The traveller hungered for his native land.这个旅行者渴望回到自己的祖国去。
This is my native land and I'll defend it with my life!这是我的祖国,我将用生命保卫她。
I arrived that evening at my native town.那天傍晚我到达我的故乡。
These native pots are slowly built into a fine collection.这些本地产的盆盆罐罐逐渐积成了可观的收藏品。
Oak, ash and thorn are native English trees.橡树、白蜡树和蒺藜原产于英国。
The elections were over and the first native Governor was inaugurated.选举结束,第一个在当地土生土长的州长走马上任了。
Having lived in Shanghai for a decade or so, he still leans towards his native dishes.在上海虽已住了10年左右,他还是喜欢吃家乡菜。
All native traffic is prohibited for three months.当地交通被禁止通行三个月。
His native musical ability impressed his teacher.他天生的音乐才能给老师留下了深刻印象。
用作表语
▲S+be+～+to n./pron.
She was native to Shanghai.她原籍上海。
Banana is native to Taiwan.香蕉是台湾的土产。
The panda is native to west China.熊猫产于中国西部。
The ability to swim is native to fish.鱼生来就会游泳。

native, natural
这两个词都有“天生的”“自然的”意思,有时可互换。其区别是:native侧重于出生或起源; natural侧重于出自自然而非出自加工。