First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1green
adjective \ˈgrēn\
: having the color of growing grass
: covered by green grass or other plants
: consisting of green plants or of the leaves of plants
Full Definition of GREEN
1
: of the color green
2
3
: pleasantly alluring
5
: not ripened or matured <green apples>
7
a : marked by a pale, sickly, or nauseated appearance b : envious 1 —used especially in the phrase green with envy
8
a : not fully processed or treated: as (1) : not aged <green liquor> (2) : not dressed or tanned <green hides> (3) : freshly sawed b : not in condition for a particular use
9
a : deficient in training, knowledge, or experience <green recruits> b : deficient in sophistication and savoir faire : naive c : not fully qualified for or experienced in a particular function
10
a often capitalized : relating to or being an environmentalist political movement b : concerned with or supporting environmentalism c : tending to preserve environmental quality (as by being recyclable, biodegradable, or nonpolluting)
— green·ish \ˈgrē-nish\ adjective
— green·ish·ness noun
— green·ly adverb
— green·ness \ˈgrē(n)-nəs\ noun
— green around the gills
: pale or sickly in appearance
See green defined for English-language learners
See green defined for kids
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Origin of GREEN
Middle English grene, from Old English grēne; akin to Old English grōwan to grow
2green
verb
Definition of GREEN
intransitive verb
: to become green
transitive verb
1
: to make green
2
First Known Use of GREEN
before 12th century
3green
noun
: a color that is like the color of growing grass
greens : the leaves of plants used for food
: a large area covered with growing grass in the center of a town or village
Full Definition of GREEN
1
: a color whose hue is somewhat less yellow than that of growing fresh grass or of the emerald or is that of the part of the spectrum lying between blue and yellow
2
: something of a green color
3
: green vegetation: as a plural : leafy parts of plants for use as decoration b plural (1) : leafy herbs (as spinach, dandelions, or Swiss chard) that are cooked as a vegetable (2) : green vegetables
4
: a grassy plain or plot: as a : a common or park in the center of a town or village b : putting green
5
: money; especially : greenbacks
6
often capitalized : environmentalist; especially : a member of an activist political party focusing on environmental and social issues
— greeny \ˈgrē-nē\ adjective
See green defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of GREEN
13th century
Green
biographical name
Definition of GREEN
Julien or Julian 1900–1998 Fr. nov.
Green
biographical name
Definition of GREEN
William 1873–1952 Am. labor leader
Green
geographical name \ˈgrēn\
Definition of GREEN
1
river 730 miles (1175 kilometers) W United States flowing from Wind River Range in W Wyoming S into Colorado River in SE Utah
2
city NE Ohio S of Akron pop 22,817
GREEN Defined for Kids
1green
adjective \ˈgrēn\
green·ergreen·est
Definition of GREEN for Kids
1
: of the color of grass : colored green <a green shirt>
2
: covered with green plant growth <green fields>
3
: made of green plants or of the leafy parts of plants <a green salad>
4
: not ripe <green bananas>
5
: not fully processed, treated, or seasoned <green lumber>
6
: lacking training or experience <green troops>
7
: jealous 2 <green with envy>
8
: supporting the protection of or helping to protect the environment <green activists> <green household products>
2green
noun
Definition of GREEN for Kids
1
: a color between blue and yellow : the color of growing grass
2
greens plural : leafy parts of plants used for food
3
: a grassy plain or plot <the village green>
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