green
(gr
n)
KEY
NOUN:
- The hue of that portion of the visible spectrum lying between yellow and blue, evoked in the human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 490 to 570 nanometers; any of a group of colors that may vary in lightness and saturation and whose hue is that of the emerald or somewhat less yellow than that of growing grass; one of the additive or light primaries; one of the psychological primary hues.
- Something green in color.
-
greens
Green growth or foliage, especially:
- The branches and leaves of plants used for decoration.
- Leafy plants or plant parts eaten as vegetables.
- A grassy lawn or plot, especially:
- A grassy area located usually at the center of a city or town and set aside for common use; a common.
-
Sports
A putting green.
-
greens
A green uniform:
"a young . . . sergeant in dress greens"
(Nelson DeMille).
-
Slang
Money.
-
Green
A supporter of a social and political movement that espouses global environmental protection, bioregionalism, social responsibility, and nonviolence.
ADJECTIVE:
greenˇer
,
greenˇest
- Of the color green.
- Abounding in or covered with green growth or foliage:
the green woods.
- Made with green or leafy vegetables:
a green salad.
- Characterized by mild or temperate weather:
a green climate.
- Youthful; vigorous:
at the green age of 18.
- Not mature or ripe; young:
green tomatoes.
- Brand-new; fresh.
- Not yet fully processed, especially:
- Not aged:
green wood.
- Not cured or tanned:
green pelts.
- Lacking training or experience. See Synonyms at young.
-
- Lacking sophistication or worldly experience; naive.
- Easily duped or deceived; gullible.
- Having a sickly or unhealthy pallor indicative of nausea or jealousy, for example.
-
- Beneficial to the environment:
green recycling policies.
- Favoring or supporting environmentalism:
green legislators who strengthened pollution controls.
tr. & intr.v.
greened
,
greenˇing
,
greens
- To make or become green.
IDIOM:
green
around
/about
the gills
- Pale or sickly in appearance.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English
grene, from Old English
grne; see
ghr- in Indo-European roots. N., sense 7 translation of German
(die) Grünen,
(the) Greens, from
grün,
green
OTHER FORMS:
green
ly
(Adverb),
greenness
(Noun)
