Definition of green

< Greeley, Horace

Green, William >

green    (grn) KEY 

NOUN:

1. 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.
2. Something green in color.
3. greens Green growth or foliage, especially:
   1. The branches and leaves of plants used for decoration.
   2. Leafy plants or plant parts eaten as vegetables.
4. A grassy lawn or plot, especially:
   1. A grassy area located usually at the center of a city or town and set aside for common use; a common.
   2. Sports A putting green.
5. greens A green uniform: "a young . . . sergeant in dress greens" (Nelson DeMille).
6. Slang Money.
7. Green A supporter of a social and political movement that espouses global environmental protection, bioregionalism, social responsibility, and nonviolence.

ADJECTIVE:
green·er, green·est

1. Of the color green.
2. Abounding in or covered with green growth or foliage: the green woods.
3. Made with green or leafy vegetables: a green salad.
4. Characterized by mild or temperate weather: a green climate.
5. Youthful; vigorous: at the green age of 18.
6. Not mature or ripe; young: green tomatoes.
7. Brand-new; fresh.
8. Not yet fully processed, especially:
   1. Not aged: green wood.
   2. Not cured or tanned: green pelts.
9. Lacking training or experience. See Synonyms at young.
10. 1. Lacking sophistication or worldly experience; naive.
    2. Easily duped or deceived; gullible.
11. Having a sickly or unhealthy pallor indicative of nausea or jealousy, for example.
12. 1. Beneficial to the environment: green recycling policies.
    2. Favoring or supporting environmentalism: green legislators who strengthened pollution controls.

tr. & intr.v.
greened, green·ing, greens

To make or become green.

IDIOM:
green around/about the gills

Pale or sickly in appearance.

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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:
greenly(Adverb), greenness(Noun)