English Reference
adjective · noun

green

adj. · n.
US /ˈɡɹin/ UK /ɡɹˈiːn/ green UK spelling greening

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    adj.having the color of grass or leaves.

    adj.of a hue between blue and yellow in the spectrum; the color of growing herbage.

    Simple

    The hills were bright green after the heavy spring rains.

    In context

    The artist used a vibrant green pigment to capture the lush canopy of the tropical rainforest.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    adj.supporting the protection of the environment.

    adj.relating to or supporting environmentalism or ecological sustainability.

    Simple

    Many people are switching to green energy to help the planet.

    In context

    The corporation faced intense scrutiny over its green credentials after reports of illegal waste disposal surfaced.

    eco friendlysustainableecological
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.new to a job or activity and lacking experience.

    adj.lacking experience, sophistication, or maturity in a specific professional or social context.

    Simple

    The new manager is a bit green, so he might need some help at first.

    In context

    Although the recruits were green, their enthusiasm during the initial training phase impressed the senior officers.

    naiverawcallow
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    adj.looking or feeling sick, especially like you might vomit.

    adj.having a sickly or nauseated appearance, often associated with motion sickness.

    Simple

    He looked a bit green after the long, bumpy boat ride.

    In context

    The passenger turned visibly green as the small aircraft hit a patch of severe turbulence over the mountains.

  5. 05 A1 Beginner

    n.the color between blue and yellow.

    n.the chromatic sensation produced by light of a wavelength between approximately 495 and 570 nanometres.

    Simple

    She chose a dark green for the walls of her study.

    In context

    The subtle variations of green in the landscape painting were achieved through complex layering of glazes.

  6. 06 B1 Intermediate Cooking

    n.green vegetables, especially the leaves that you cook and eat.

    n.leafy green vegetables, typically served as a cooked side dish.

    Simple

    You should eat your greens if you want to stay healthy.

    In context

    The chef prepared a side of seasonal greens sautéed with garlic and a hint of lemon zest.

    leafy vegetables
  7. 07 B1 Intermediate British English

    n.an area of grass in the middle of a town or village for everyone to use.

    n.a common area of grassy land within a village or town, often used for recreation.

    Simple

    The children were playing football on the village green.

    In context

    The annual summer fair is traditionally held on the town green, attracting residents from all the surrounding parishes.

  8. 08 B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    n.the area of very short grass around the hole on a golf course.

    n.the area of closely mown grass surrounding the hole on a golf course fairway.

    Simple

    He managed to get the ball onto the green in just two shots.

    In context

    The golfer carefully studied the slope of the green before attempting the final putt of the tournament.

    putting green
  9. 09 C1 Advanced American EnglishSlang

    n.a slang word for paper money.

    n.a slang term for paper currency, specifically US banknotes.

    Simple

    He's only doing that job because he wants the green.

    In context

    In the underground economy of the city, nothing talks louder than a stack of cold, hard green.

Usage green light · green economy · green spaces


English surname, a topographic name for someone who either lived near a village green, or was just fond of the colour. This name is also translated from other surnames, such as German Grün and Gruen, Dutch Groen, Irish Ó hUainí (from uaine, see Honan), etc. The Irish surname was also erroneously translated from Ó Fathaidh, Ó Fathaigh, from faithche (“lawn”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin ga Ó hUainí
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Very common
Updated