green

I. 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) • greenish adjective • greenishness noun • greenly adverb • greenness noun 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 adjective