green (grēn)
n.

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.

adj., 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 (or about) the gills

1. Pale or sickly in appearance.

[Middle English grene, from Old English grēne. N., sense 7 , translation of German (die) Grünen, (the) Greens, from grün, green.]

greenly green'ly adv.
greenness green'ness n.

---

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

---