What does greenhouse mean?
A greenhouse is a transparent building or structure, commonly made with glass, where plants are grown under controlled conditions. Its walls and roof allow light to enter while helping protect plants from cold, wind, and other environmental hazards. The word is used in both British and American English, with “glasshouse” serving as a familiar British alternative. Greenhouse also has an established figurative meaning: a group, idea, or activity is said to thrive in a political, cultural, or corporate greenhouse when it is protected and isolated from outside scrutiny or competition. This metaphorical use is especially common in political and organizational commentary. The word is also the source of the environmental expression “greenhouse effect,” which describes the warming influence of gases that allow solar radiation to enter the atmosphere while slowing the escape of heat.
nounA greenhouse is a building or transparent structure, usually with glass walls and a glass roof, used for growing plants, especially when the temperature needs to be controlled. Figuratively, it can refer to an organization or environment that nurtures or protects a particular group, idea, or activity.
- A transparent building or structure used to grow plants, generally by protecting them from cold or other unfavorable weather.
- An organization, social setting, or political environment that nurtures and insulates a particular group, idea, or activity.
"She grows tomatoes in a small greenhouse behind the house."
"The botanists use the greenhouse to experiment with rare tropical plants."
"The developing team found that the company’s supposedly open culture was really a political greenhouse."
The standard plural of the noun, used when referring to multiple structures of this kind.
"Several greenhouses stand along the southern side of the garden."
The greenhouse effect takes its name from glass structures that trap warmth, turning an ordinary garden building into a model of the planet’s changing atmosphere.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does greenhouse come from?
“Greenhouse” is a compound formed in the early 17th century from the older words “green” and “house.” It originally referred to a glass-covered building in which green plants could be kept warm and protected. The elements descend from Old English “grēne,” related to greenery and verdancy, and Old English “hūs,” which underlies forms such as “household.”
Related word forms
How greenhouse is actually used
The word is neutral and standard in British and American English. In British usage, “glasshouse” is a common alternative, while the figurative political sense is usually informal or critical and often appears in expressions such as “political greenhouse.”
Easily confused with greenhouse
A greenhouse is a structure for growing plants, while a hothouse is specifically a heated structure maintained at a relatively high temperature.