greenhouse
GREEN-hows
Greenhouse (noun) means a glass or plastic-covered building used to grow plants by trapping heat and sunlight. Example: “She grows tomatoes in the greenhouse all year round.”
noun
1
A glass or plastic-covered building used to grow plants by trapping heat and sunlight.
"She grows tomatoes in the greenhouse all year round."
"The garden centre kept its delicate orchids warm inside a large greenhouse."
"Dad built a small greenhouse at the back of the garden for his chillies."
2
Used in "greenhouse effect" or "greenhouse gas" to describe the trapping of heat in Earth's atmosphere.
"Carbon dioxide is one of the main greenhouse gases driving climate change."
"Burning less coal would help cut the amount of greenhouse gas in the air."
"Scientists explain the greenhouse effect using a simple model of a warm blanket."
verb
1
To grow or nurture something, especially plants, in protected conditions.
"The nursery greenhouses young seedlings before planting them outdoors."
"We greenhouse our tender herbs through the winter and plant them out in spring."
"The gardener greenhouses the cuttings until they grow strong roots."
How to use greenhouse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA glass building for growing plants, or (in climate contexts) the effect of gases trapping heat in the atmosphere.
Common pairings
greenhouse effect
greenhouse gas
grow in a greenhouse
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Word forms
- Plural
- greenhouses
- Third person singular
- greenhouses
- Past tense
- greenhoused
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She grows tomatoes in the _____ all year round.
Etymology
From green plus house — literally, a house for growing green produce.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for greenhouse
See all rhymes for greenhouse →Frequently asked questions
What does “greenhouse” mean?
The word “greenhouse” means a glass or plastic-covered building used to grow plants by trapping heat and sunlight. In plain terms, a glass building for growing plants, or (in climate contexts) the effect of gases trapping heat in the atmosphere.
How do you pronounce “greenhouse”?
“Greenhouse” is pronounced GREEN-hows (/ˈɡɹːnˌ(h)aʊs/ in IPA).
How do you use “greenhouse” in a sentence?
Here is “greenhouse” used in a sentence: “She grows tomatoes in the greenhouse all year round.”
What part of speech is “greenhouse”?
Depending on how it is used, “greenhouse” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “greenhouse” a common word?
“Greenhouse” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “greenhouse” have?
“Greenhouse” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a glass or plastic-covered building used to grow plants by trapping heat and sunlight.
What is the difference between a greenhouse and a conservatory?
A greenhouse is a glass or plastic-covered structure built specifically to grow plants by trapping heat and sunlight, while a conservatory is typically attached to a house and combines plant growing with use as a living space. Greenhouses are usually more utilitarian and purpose-built for cultivation.
What is the difference between "greenhouse effect" and "greenhouse gas"?
The "greenhouse effect" is the overall process by which certain gases trap heat in Earth's atmosphere, while a "greenhouse gas" is one of the specific gases, such as carbon dioxide or methane, responsible for causing that effect. The term borrows from how a physical greenhouse traps heat from sunlight.
Can "greenhouse" be used as a verb?
Yes, "greenhouse" can function as a verb meaning to grow or nurture something, especially plants, in protected conditions. This usage is less common than the noun but appears in gardening and horticultural contexts.
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