green
/ɡriːn/Green is the colour of grass, leaves, and many plants. It can also describe something that has this colour.
- The walls are painted green.
- She wore a green scarf.
- Green apples are still sour.
Green is the colour between blue and yellow. It can also mean an area of grass in a town or village.
- I like the bright green of spring.
- Children played on the village green.
- The park has a large green.
- 1.
Green can describe someone who is new, inexperienced, or not yet skilled.
- He's still green at the job.
- I was green when I started teaching.
- Don't worry, she's green but eager to learn.
- 2.
Green can also mean friendly to the environment and aimed at saving energy or reducing waste.
- They want a greener office.
- We bought a green car.
- The company supports green energy.
Adinary Nuance
Green is the basic word for the colour, so it is more common and natural than words like verdant or emerald. Use verdant for rich, leafy scenery, and emerald for a jewel-like shade. For people, green often means inexperienced, while naive means easily fooled. In modern writing, green often means environmentally friendly.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- màu xanh lá
- Spanish
- verde
- Chinese
- 绿色
- Japanese
- 緑
- Korean
- 초록색
Etymology
Green comes from Old English grēne, from Proto-Germanic *grōniz, meaning 'growing' or 'fresh'. The colour word was linked to plants and new growth.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is green a common word in everyday English?
- Yes. It is a very common word for colour, nature, and environmental ideas.
- What is the difference between green and verdant?
- Green is the basic everyday word. Verdant is more descriptive and often used for landscapes and writing.
- Can green describe a person?
- Yes. It can mean inexperienced or not yet skilled.
- Is green used in business and academic writing?
- Yes, especially in phrases like green energy and green policy.