green meat

A child eats green meat with their dinner.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Fresh grass or herbage used as food for animals: "green meat" refers to vegetative matter, such as grass, clover, or leafy crops, that is consumed by livestock.
   • Rare or archaic sense: In some contexts, "green meat" may denote unripe or freshly killed meat, though this usage is uncommon and not standard.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The cattle were turned out to pasture to feed on green meat. (The animals ate fresh grass in the field.)
  • Farmers often supplement hay with green meat during the growing season. (They add fresh vegetation to the animals' diet.)

Advanced Usage

• "green meat" as a compound term: In agricultural or veterinary contexts, "green meat" is used to distinguish fresh, living plant material from dry fodder or silage.
  • Livestock require a balanced diet that includes both green meat and grains. (Fresh grass is part of their nutritional intake.)

Variants and Related Words

• Green (adj): of the colour between blue and yellow; also, unripe or inexperienced.

  • The grass is green and lush in spring. (The vegetation is fresh and healthy.)

• Meat (n): the flesh of an animal used as food.

  • He prefers red meat over poultry. (He likes beef or lamb more than chicken.)

Synonyms

• Herbage: vegetation, especially grass or leafy plants, used for grazing.
• Forage: food for livestock, especially that which is gathered or grown.

Related Idioms

• Green around the gills: appearing sick or nauseated (not related to "green meat" but shares the word "green").
  • After the boat ride, she looked green around the gills. (She looked unwell.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Green up: to become greener or more lush (used of vegetation).
  • The fields greened up after the rain. (The grass grew fresh and vibrant.)