Green is any of a number of similar colors. Green is seen commonly in nature, like in plants. Many plants are green mainly because of a complex chemical known as chlorophyll which is involved in photosynthesis.
| Green (original X11 color) ("lime" in HTML/CSS) | |
|---|---|
 Color coordinates | |
| Hex triplet | #00FF00 |
| sRGBB (r, g, b) | (0, 255, 0) |
| HSV (h, s, v) | (120°, 100%, 100%) |
| CIELChuv (L, C, h) | (88, 136, 128°) |
| Source | [Unsourced] |
| B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) | |
| Green (HTML/CSS color) | |
|---|---|
| Color coordinates | |
| Hex triplet | #008000 |
| sRGBB (r, g, b) | (0, 128, 0) |
| HSV (h, s, v) | (120°, 100%, 50%) |
| CIELChuv (L, C, h) | (46, 72, 128°) |
| Source | [Unsourced] |
| B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) | |
Green light has a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nm and is considered one of the additive primary colors. It is the complement of magenta; more properly the color #FF00FF. People who are red-green color blind can often distinguish between the two colors but confuse them with other colors, for example, bright green with yellow; dark green with brown.
The term "green" does not define an exact color unless it is conjunction with some standard like X11 colors or an absolute color space like sRGB. The two colors shown to the right are wildly different, but each is called "Green" in a widely used color standard.
Uses of the color green
- Green symbolizes go in its use in traffic signals, railway signals and ship signals. It is also the color of informational and directional signs. Fire escape exit signs are green in some countries, but red in others.
- In the Middle Ages, green represented evil or demonic beings (including dragons) and sometimes love.
- In heraldry, green is called vert.
- In ancient China, green was the symbol of East and Wood, one of the main five colors.
- In North American stock markets, green is used to denote a rise in stock prices. In East Asian stock markets, green is used to denote a drop in stock prices.
- In night vision goggles, the color green is used to display the enhanced image because the human eye is able to discern the most shades in that color.
- In auto racing a green flag signals the start or resumption of a race.
- Because of its camouflage properties, green is typically used for the field uniforms for many military services. It is also used as the dress uniform for many land forces and marines.
- Green is a symbol of Ireland, which is often referred to as "the Emerald Isle". The color is particularly identified with the republican and nationalist traditions in modern times. It is used this way on the flag of the Republic of Ireland, in balance with the Protestant orange.
- Green also serves as a symbol of the Esperanto language. The color is particularly associated with the green star, and is seen too on the Esperanto flag.
- Green is considered the traditional color of Islam, likewise because of its association with nature. Muhammad is reliably quoted in a hadith as saying that "water, greenery, and a beautiful face" were three universally good things. However, this is ironic because the only symbol Muhammad chose for his new religion was a black flag. Also, in the Qu'ran, sura Al-Insan, followers of Allah in Jannah wear fine green silk.[citation needed]
- The Green Screen was the common name for a monochrome CRT computer display using a green P1 Phosphor screen.
- The emotion of envy is traditionally associated with the color green.
- Green is the color of the snooker ball which has a 3-point value, and is also a common color for the baize on a snooker table.
- The Green Lantern is a DC Comics superhero.
- The Green Arrow is a DC Comics superhero
- Green is the color generally associated with Plaid Cymru, the Welsh political party — but not for reasons of its political ideology.
- British racing green is a popular color for cars. It was made famous by the likes of Bentley in the early 20th Century. It is the traditional color for race cars sponsored by British automakers.
- One video and film compositing technique uses a Greenscreen or Bluescreen.
- In The Fifth Element, green is a fad expression popularized by talk show host Ruby Rhod indicating something trendy or stylish.
- Bein' Green — a popular song by Kermit the Frog
- In Dante's Divine Comedy, green is the color used to symbolize hope.
- In many countries, especially those in the former Soviet bloc, green is the colour of the border guard.
- In the United States Army, green is the color of the Military Police, whereas jungle green is the color of the United States Army Special Forces or "Green Berets".
Green substances
Food colorings used for green include chlorophyll (E140 and E141), quinoline (E104) and, in countries where it is permitted, "Green S" (E142).
Colloquial expressions
- Envy, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, is also called the green-eyed monster (after a phrase in Shakespeare's Othello). A person suffering therefrom is said to be "green with envy". Substances that may impart a greenish hue to one's skin include biliverdin, the green pigment in bile, and ceruloplasmin, a protein that carries copper ions in chelation.
- Traditionally, someone who works well with plants is said to have a green thumb, or green fingers.
- An inexperienced person is sometimes known as green, probably by analogy to unripe (i.e. unready, immature) fruit. The word greenhorn also refers to an inexperienced person.
- Aliens (of the extraterrestrial variety) are sometimes referred to as "little green men".
- People who are feeling ill are sometimes referred to as "green around the gills".
- "Green" is a slang term for marijuana, due to the color of the plant material.
Web color
green
The color green used in HTML and CSS is actually a dark green (#008000), as seen in the sample to the right: the pure green color is called lime.
"Green" as a political ideology
The ecology movement uses green because of its common occurrence in nature. Greenpeace, an ecological group, uses green because of its association with life and verdancy. Those who carry this into the political realm are called "Greens":
There are political parties known as "Green Parties" in over one hundred countries throughout the world (beginning primarily in Europe, though similar parties have taken root around the world). The more generic term "green party" is used for parties that emphasize environmentalism, but it is increasingly out of favour as the Global Greens have succeeded in uniting almost all such parties under a Global Green Charter.
A "Green Party" (or Faction) also existed in the Byzantine Empire for a while, but of course it had nothing to do with modern Greens. Rather, it developed out of a kind of chariot racing fanclub whose drivers used the color green to distinguish themselves from the opposing "Blue Party".
The flag of Libya is plain green (the traditional color of Islam), the only current national flag of a single color.
Green is also the color of supporters of Taiwan independence in opposition to the unification-leaning pan-blue coalition. This symbolism comes from Taiwan's tropics and is unrelated to environmentalism or the Green Party.
Green as a symbol
Green is the color symbolizing earth, nature, and in a broader sense, life. It is also the colour of the back of U.S. currency (giving rise to the slang term "greenback"), and thus carries a connotation of money, wealth, and capitalism. This is especially true in the U.S., but the symbol of the dollar worldwide makes it a wider symbol.
In North American stock markets, green is used to denote a rise in stock prices. In East Asian stock markets, however, green is used to denote a drop in stock prices.
Green pigments
See also
