What is a prime number?

A prime number is defined as a natural number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than itself and 1. This means that for prime numbers, the only way to express them as a product of two positive integers is through the number itself and 1. For instance, the number 5 is prime because it cannot be divided evenly by any whole numbers except for 1 and 5.

This definition is crucial in number theory and holds significant implications for various branches of mathematics, particularly in understanding factors and multiples.

In contrast, the other provided options do not align with the definition of prime numbers. For example, a natural number less than 1 does not meet the basic criteria of being greater than 1. A number that can be divided by any integer would pertain to 0, which is not a prime number. Lastly, a composite number, by definition, is a natural number greater than 1 that has divisors other than 1 and itself, which directly contradicts the definition of prime numbers. Therefore, the accurate characterization of a prime number is that it is indeed a natural number greater than 1 with no positive divisors other than itself.