green
/ɡriːn/ (bre, ipa) · [ɡrˈin] /ɡriːn/ (ame, ipa) · [ɡrˈin] /ˈgrēn/ (ame, mw)
green — adjective
- greenpositive
- greenercomparative
- greenestsuperlative
1. having the color seen in fresh grass or many leaves.
having the color seen in fresh grass or many leaves.
Xiu wore a green scarf over a black coat on the windy platform.
green before a noun for color
The bakery painted its front door green to match the old window frames.
After spring rain, the tea hills looked green under the early morning sun.
A green bus waited beside the school gate with its lights still on.
用法筆記
Most often used for the basic color itself. It can come before a noun or after verbs such as look, turn, or paint.
2. connected with protecting the natural world, or with groups that make this aim p
connected with protecting the natural world, or with groups that make this aim part of their politics.
The mayor announced a green policy that cuts car use in the city center.
green before policy for environmental politics
Students joined a green party rally outside parliament on Saturday afternoon.
The company hired a green adviser to plan cleaner shipping methods.
Voters backed a green candidate who promised more bike lanes.
用法筆記
Use this sense for political ideas, parties, or public positions linked to environmental protection. Distinguish from sense 3, which focuses on practical low-impact methods rather than political identity.
3. trying to reduce harm to nature by the choices you make or the methods you use.
trying to reduce harm to nature by the choices you make or the methods you use.
The hotel uses green cleaning products in every guest room.
green before products for low-impact choices
Our office chose green packaging made from paper that can be used again.
The school canteen switched to green energy from a nearby wind farm.
A green redesign cut water waste in the old factory kitchen.
用法筆記
Often describes products, systems, or habits meant to create less waste or pollution. Unlike sense 2, it does not require a party or movement context.
4. full of grass, trees, or other growing plants.
full of grass, trees, or other growing plants.
By June, the riverbank was green with tall grass and wild flowers.
be green with plants across a place
From the train window, the valley looked green after weeks of rain.
The abandoned wall soon turned green with moss in the damp shade.
Tourists rested on a green hillside above the white fishing village.
用法筆記
This sense describes places covered by living plants. Distinguish from sense 1, which only names the color without saying why something looks that way.
5. not yet ready for use or eating, such as fruit that is still hard or wood that s
not yet ready for use or eating, such as fruit that is still hard or wood that still holds moisture.
The peaches were still green, so the cook left them by the window.
green for fruit not ready to eat
Grandfather warned us that green wood would smoke too much indoors.
The farmer picked a few green bananas for next week's market stall.
These pears feel green and hard, not ready for tonight's dessert.
用法筆記
Common with fruit, but it can also describe wood that has not dried enough. The idea is lack of readiness rather than color alone.
6. new to a job or activity and still lacking practice.
new to a job or activity and still lacking practice.
Reema felt green on her first day behind the pharmacy counter.
feel green for lack of experience
The new goalie is talented but still green in big matches.
Our green crew needed extra time to set up the stage lights.
Felix sounded green when he tried to lead the budget meeting.
用法筆記
Often used about workers, players, or teams with little real experience. It is more informal than simply saying someone is new.
7. looking pale and slightly ill, especially because you feel sick.
looking pale and slightly ill, especially because you feel sick.
After the boat ride, Diego looked green and asked for fresh air.
look green for nausea
Samir turned green when the nurse showed the broken tooth.
The long bus trip left several children green and quiet.
Saira gave a green smile and pushed away the bowl of soup.
用法筆記
Usually describes someone's face or general appearance when they feel sick, shocked, or close to vomiting. Distinguish from sense 8, which is about envy rather than illness.
8. showing unhappy envy because someone else has an advantage you want.
showing unhappy envy because someone else has an advantage you want.
Kian felt green when his cousin bought a beach house in Kenting.
feel green for envy
The younger singer looked green as the crowd cheered the headliner.
Sivan grew green with envy after seeing Christopher's scholarship letter.
Two brothers traded green glances when their sister opened the biggest gift.
用法筆記
Most natural in fixed phrases such as 'green with envy'. Distinguish from sense 7, where the color suggests illness rather than jealousy.
green — noun
- greensingular
- greensplural
1. the color seen in grass and leaves, or something in that color.
the color seen in grass and leaves, or something in that color.
A pale green spread across the sky just before the storm arrived.
green as a color noun
The designer mixed blue and yellow until the green looked softer.
Green filled the market stalls where vendors piled herbs and limes.
She chose a deep green for the kitchen walls and cupboard doors.
用法筆記
This sense can name the color itself or a shade used in design and description.
2. a person who supports environmental protection, especially in politics.
a person who supports environmental protection, especially in politics.
Several Greens objected when the highway plan cut through wetlands.
Greens for members or supporters
A local Green spoke about clean buses at the town meeting.
The youngest Green on the council pushed for more street trees.
Reporters asked the Greens whether they would join the coalition.
用法筆記
Often written with a capital letter when it refers to a party member or supporter. Distinguish from adjective senses 2 and 3, which describe ideas or methods rather than people.
3. a shared grassy open space in the middle of a community where people can gather
a shared grassy open space in the middle of a community where people can gather or relax.
Families ate lunch on the green while a brass band played nearby.
on the green for a shared grass area
Children chased bubbles across the village green after the parade.
Benches circle the green in front of the old stone library.
We crossed the green to reach the bakery before it closed.
用法筆記
Usually refers to a shared central grass area rather than any random lawn. It is especially common in village or small-town settings.
4. the smooth short-grass area around a golf hole where players putt.
the smooth short-grass area around a golf hole where players putt.
Her ball stopped just short of the green beside the ninth hole.
the green in golf
The coach asked Diego to read the slope of the green carefully.
Rain made the green slower than usual during the afternoon round.
A bunker guards the green on the shortest hole at the club.
用法筆記
This sense is specific to golf. It refers to the carefully cut area around the hole, not to the whole course.
5. leafy vegetables served as food, such as spinach, chard, or cabbage leaves.
leafy vegetables served as food, such as spinach, chard, or cabbage leaves.
The cook simmered greens with garlic and a little sesame oil.
greens as cooked leafy vegetables
Winter greens from the market went into tonight's noodle soup.
Grandmother washed the greens twice before chopping them for lunch.
The lunch box held rice, tofu, and dark greens.
用法筆記
Usually plural and used in cooking contexts. It refers to edible leafy vegetables rather than the color itself.
green — verb
- greenpresent simple I / you / we / they
- greens3rd person singular
- greening-ing form
- greenedpast simple
1. to turn something green or give it a greener appearance.
to turn something green or give it a greener appearance.
The art teacher greened the paper with a thin wash of paint.
green + object
Soft stage lights greened the curtains during the forest scene.
Morning sun greened the glass bottles on the windowsill.
The designer greened the logo to match the recycling campaign.
文法句型
green + something
用法筆記
This is a marked verb sense and usually appears in artistic, visual, or descriptive writing. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about making something more environmentally responsible.
2. to make something cleaner, more efficient, or more environmentally responsible.
to make something cleaner, more efficient, or more environmentally responsible.
The city plans to green the bus fleet over the next three years.
green + system to reduce impact
New rules helped green the factory by cutting coal use.
The school board wants to green lunch service with reusable trays.
Engineers were hired to green the old office tower.
文法句型
green + system/place/industry
用法筆記
Common objects are systems, buildings, fleets, or industries. The focus is on improving environmental performance, not on changing literal color.
3. to take on a green color.
to take on a green color.
The pond water greened quickly in the summer heat.
intransitive green for becoming green
Leaves begin to green after the first warm week of March.
Copper roofs slowly green in the salty air near the harbor.
His bruise greened around the edges by the second day.
文法句型
something greens
用法筆記
This sense describes a gradual color change in water, leaves, metal, or bruises. Distinguish from sense 1, where an outside force changes something.