greenhouse

1 of 2

noun

green·​house ˈgrēn-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce greenhouse (audio)
plural greenhouses
1
: a usually permanent climate-controlled structure enclosed (as by glass or multiple layers of plastic) and used usually year-round for the cultivation or protection of tender plants
2
: a clear plastic shell (such as a canopy) covering a section of an airplane
also : a compartment (as for a bombardier) enclosed by such a shell

greenhouse

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, contributing to, or caused by the greenhouse effect
greenhouse warming
greenhouse gases

Examples of greenhouse in a Sentence

Noun needed to move the plants into the greenhouse before the first frost killed them
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The older brother tricks his younger brother into entering the greenhouse, then locks him in and sits down, smiling, as the boy yells to be let out. Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 The work includes monitoring greenhouse temperatures and humidity, growing and picking food for the caterpillars each day, and early in the year, watching for when the caterpillars awake from diapause. Krista Stevens, Longreads, 28 Feb. 2024 Roll solo or take a friend and get crafty in the backyard greenhouse of this Boyle Heights plant hub. Kamren Curiel, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024 Nevertheless, the cannabis greenhouses represent a significant cultural shift in the farming region. Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024 Zubrin notes that the first bases will concentrate on developing water extraction techniques from Martian permafrost; constructing greenhouses; and pressurized structures for human habitation as well as industrial and agricultural activity. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 Snapp told me that self-fertilizing crops could reduce agriculture’s greenhouse impact by a third, both by reducing the production and transport of fertilizer and by allowing more crops to be grown locally. Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2024 The misty, slightly smelly greenhouse full of butterflies. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 30 Jan. 2024 In greenhouses, Sheldon simulates a warming planet to see how the beetles react. Adam Yamaguchi, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Millstone accounts for 40% of Connecticut’s electricity and 90% of non-greenhouse gas emissions. Stephen Singer, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2022 And there are other ways for the president to crack down on emissions, including tightening regulations on non-greenhouse coal-plant pollutants and vehicle fuel economy standards, and boosting support for renewables. Tim McDonnell, Quartz, 22 Sep. 2020 The emissions impact of millions of people not commuting by car every day are enormous No single activity contributes more greenhouse gas emissions than driving to and from work. Matt Butner, Quartz at Work, 5 May 2020 Ideally, the new project would generate less greenhouse gas emissions than are being created at the Coliseum. Phil Matier, SFChronicle.com, 25 Mar. 2020 The change is also expected to result in significantly more greenhouse gas emissions, which trap the sun’s heat, worsening the effects of climate change. Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2020 Of the 90 countries whose oil extraction was studied, few generated more greenhouse gas per barrel. Christopher Flavelle, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2020 The thawing of permafrost represents a positive feedback that amplifies warming by releasing more greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, 6 Feb. 2020 Increasing fuel efficiency means vehicles burn less gas and subsequently emit less greenhouse gas pollution into the atmosphere. New York Times, 25 July 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'greenhouse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of greenhouse was in 1664

Dictionary Entries Near greenhouse

Cite this Entry

“Greenhouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/greenhouse. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

greenhouse

1 of 2 noun
green·​house -ˌhau̇s How to pronounce greenhouse (audio)
: a glassed enclosure for cultivation of plants

greenhouse

2 of 2 adjective
: relating to, causing, or caused by the greenhouse effect
greenhouse warming

More from Merriam-Webster on greenhouse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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