English Reference
noun · verb

greenhouse

n. · v.
US /ˈɡɹinˌhaʊs/ UK /ɡɹˈiːnhaʊs/ green·house UK spelling greenhouse's, greenhouse's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    n.a building made of glass or plastic where you grow plants that need warmth.

    n.a structure with transparent walls and roof, designed to trap solar radiation for the cultivation of plants in controlled temperatures.

    Simple

    He grows tomatoes and peppers in his greenhouse during the winter.

    In context

    The botanical garden features a massive Victorian greenhouse that houses rare tropical orchids requiring constant humidity and warmth.

    glasshouseconservatoryhothouse
  2. 02 C1 Advanced Academic Science

    n.a state where the whole planet becomes much warmer than usual.

    n.a climatic state of the Earth characterized by high global temperatures and a lack of continental glaciers.

    Simple

    Scientists study ancient greenhouse periods to understand modern global warming.

    In context

    During the Eocene, the planet was in a greenhouse state, with lush forests extending even into the polar regions.

    hothouse earth
    icehouse
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency British EnglishSlangArchaic Military

    n.the glass cover over the pilot's seat in an airplane.

    n.the transparent canopy or glass enclosure of a military aircraft's cockpit.

    Simple

    The pilot looked out through the greenhouse as he prepared for takeoff.

    In context

    The vintage bomber was famous for its extensive greenhouse, which provided the crew with excellent visibility during low-altitude missions.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

    v.to put plants inside a greenhouse to help them grow.

    v.to place or cultivate plants within a greenhouse environment.

    Simple

    You should greenhouse these seedlings before the first frost hits.

    In context

    The nursery manager decided to greenhouse the delicate saplings to ensure they survived the unusually harsh spring transition.

    Usage

    The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

Usage greenhouse gas · greenhouse gases

One of the most important of these greenhouse gases is methane.

Phys.org· 15 Aug 2026

That is because the plants are grown in greenhouses which overheat in the high outdoor temperatures, causing the plants to become stressed, Vanpoperinghe said.

BBC News· 11 Aug 2026

From green + house ("house for growing greens"), in reference to the produce grown within.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated