1.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:
a. The branches and leaves of plants used for decoration.
b. The leaves of certain plants eaten as vegetables.
4. A grassy lawn or plot, especially:
a. A grassy area located usually at the center of a city or town and set aside for common use; a common.
b. 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.
a. Abounding in or covered with green growth or foliage: the green woods.
b. Made with green or leafy vegetables: a green salad.
c. Characterized by mild or temperate weather: a green climate.
3.
a. Not mature or ripe: green tomatoes.
b. Not grown up; young: still at a green age.
c. Vigorous or robust: keeping one's memory green.
d. Lacking training or experience. See Synonyms at young .
e. Lacking sophistication or worldly experience; naive.
f. Easily duped or deceived; gullible.
4. Not yet fully processed, especially:
a. Not dried or aged: green wood.
b. Not cured or tanned: green pelts.
5.
a. Beneficial to the environment or less harmful to the environment than others: green technology; recyclable green products.
b. Favoring or supporting environmentalism: green legislators who strengthened pollution controls.
6.
a. Having a sickly or unhealthy appearance.
b. Envious or jealous.
7. Being a trail, as for skiing, marked with a sign having a green circle, indicating the easiest level of difficulty.
v. greened , green·ing , greens
v.intr. To become green: The rains came, and the grass greened.
v.tr. 1. To make green: Grass greened the hills.
2. To design or organize so as to be beneficial or less harmful to the environment, especially in reducing the amount of pollution created: efforts to green the economy.
Idiom: green around /about the gills Pale or sickly in appearance.
[Middle English grene , from Old English grēne ; see ghrē- in Indo-European roots . N., sense 7 translation of German (die) Grünen , (the) Greens, from grün , green.]
green′ly adv.
green′ness n.