Greenhouse Meaning
/ˈɡɹiːnhaʊs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA building used to grow plants, particularly one with large glass windows or plastic sheeting to trap heat from sunlight even in intemperate seasons or climates.
nounThe glass of a plane's cockpit.
Sentence Examples
I grow orchids in my greenhouse.
The farmers are forced to produce the crops in the greenhouse.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
Farmers grow vegetables in a ____ during the cold winter.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The botanist grew several types of tropical orchids in a glass ____ to protect them from the cold winter air.
Word Origin & History
From green + house ("house for growing greens"), in reference to the produce grown within.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The royal party had dined in the greenhouse, the coup d'œil of which was as striking as it was new. Vast stands of the most costly exotics reached to the glass roof, which was partly covered by a luxuriant vine, or by a small scarlet creeper."
— 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 54–55:
"In the slang of the Royal Air Force man, the cockpit of his plane is the ‘pulpit’ or ‘office’, the glass covering over it the ‘greenhouse’."
— 1941 March 24, Life, page 85:
"Figure 2.6 shows the diagram Charnley published of the airflow in the 'greenhouse'; it can be seen that reasonable downward unidirectional airflow was achieved close to the operating table."
— 2010, William Whyte, Cleanroom Technology:
"The greenhouse system for providing a nearly bacteria-free operating environment consists of a 10 by 10-foot aluminum frame with plexiglass panes forming three sides and a polyvinyl curtain forming the fourth side. […] However, the greenhouse contains its own light supply, while this is an extra with the air curtain unit."
— 1972, Southern Hospitals, volumes 40-41, page 10:
"It's almost impossible to make judgements when you're being playful – as by definition it's spontaneous activity – so your baby ideas get nurtured and greenhoused better."
— 2008, Chris Barez-Brown, How to Have Kick-Ass Ideas:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Farmers grow vegetables in a ____ during the cold winter.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The botanist grew several types of tropical orchids in a glass ____ to protect them from the cold winter air.