Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Of or relating to Greece, its people, or their language: Describes anything originating from or associated with the country of Greece, its inhabitants, or the Greek language.
   • Characteristic of Greek culture: Pertaining to the distinctive qualities, styles, or traditions of ancient or modern Greece.

2. Noun:

   • A native or inhabitant of Greece: A person who is from Greece.
   • The Indo-European language of Greece: The language spoken by the people of Greece, with a history spanning from ancient to modern forms.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • We studied Greek philosophy in class. (We studied philosophy from Greece in class.)
  • She bought a beautiful Greek vase. (She bought a beautiful vase made in Greece.)

• Noun (Person):

  • My neighbor is a Greek.* (My neighbor is a person from Greece.)
  • The ancient Greeks made significant contributions to mathematics. (The ancient people of Greece made significant contributions to mathematics.)

• Noun (Language):

  • He is learning to speak Greek.* (He is learning to speak the language of Greece.)
  • This manuscript is written in Greek.* (This manuscript is written in the Greek language.)

Advanced Usage

• "It's (all) Greek to me": An idiom meaning something is completely unintelligible or impossible to understand.
  • I tried reading the legal document, but it's all Greek to me. (I tried reading the legal document, but I cannot understand it at all.)

Variants and Related Words

• Grecian (adjective): A chiefly poetic or historical synonym for Greek, often referring to the style or culture of ancient Greece.
  • The museum has a collection of Grecian urns. (The museum has a collection of urns from ancient Greece.)
• Hellenic (adjective): A formal term relating to Greece or the Greeks, especially ancient Greece.
  • The Hellenic period was a time of great cultural achievement. (The period of ancient Greece was a time of great cultural achievement.)

Synonyms

• Hellenic (adj): Pertaining to Greece or the Greeks.
• Grecian (adj): Of or relating to Greece, especially ancient Greece.

Related Idioms

• "When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war": An idiom describing a fierce struggle or contest between two equally matched opponents.
  • The debate between the two experts was intense; it was a case of Greek meeting Greek.* (The debate between the two experts was intense; it was a fierce contest between equals.)

Adjective

1. of or relating to or characteristic of Greece or the Greeks or the Greek language
   • Greek mythology
   • a Grecian robe

Noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Greece
2. the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages