I. ˈgrēn adjective
Etymology: Middle English grene, from Old English grēne; akin to Old English grōwan to grow
Date: before 12th century
1. : of the color green
2.
a. : covered by green growth or foliage
green fields
b. of winter : mild , clement
c. : consisting of green plants and usually edible herbage
a green salad
3. : pleasantly alluring
4. : youthful , vigorous
5. : not ripened or matured : immature
green apples
tender green grasses
6. : fresh , new
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 : unseasoned
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
a green horse
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
II. verb
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
: to become green
transitive verb
1. : to make green
2. : rejuvenate , revitalize
III. noun
Date: 13th century
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 : potherbs
(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