Green

Green

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelenghth of roughly 520-570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered one of the additive primary colors. On the HSV color wheel, the compliment of green is magenta; that is, a purple color corresponding to an equal mixture of red and blue light. On a color whell baded on traditona color theory (RYB), the complementary color to green is considered to be red.

The word green is closely related to the Old English verb growan, to "grow". It is used to describe plants or the ocean. Sometimes it can also describe someone who is inexperienced, jealous, or sick. In the United States of America, green is a slang term for money, among other things. Several colloquialisms have derived from these meanings, such as "green around the gills", a phrase used to describe a person who looks ill.

Culturally, green has borad and sometimes contradictory meanings. In some cultures, green symbolizes hope and growth, while in others, it is associated with death, sickness, envy, or the devil. The most common associations, however, are found it its ties to nature. For example, Islam venerates the color, as it expects paradise to be full of luch greenery. Green is alos associated with regeneration, fertility and rebirth for its connections to nature. Recent political groups have taken on the color as symbol of enviromental protction and social justice, and consider themselves part of the Green movement, some naming themselves Green parties. This has led to similar campaigns in advertising, as compaines have sold green, or environmentally friendly, products.