Greenthumbed

/ˌɡriːnˈθʌmd/ adjective

Definition

Having a natural talent for growing plants and gardening successfully; skilled at making things grow.

Etymology

Compound of 'green' and 'thumbed,' a modern creation referencing the idea that successful gardeners' thumbs stain green from handling plants. It parallels 'green-fingered' used in British English.

Kelly Says

While most of us say 'green thumb' or 'green-fingered,' the actual origin is unclear—nobody's sure if it refers to stained thumbs, the vitality of plants, or just rhyming with 'green' and a body part!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.