Greek

[greek]

adjective

1. of or relating to Greece, the Greeks, or their language.

2. pertaining to the Greek Orthodox Church.

3. noting or pertaining to the alphabetic script derived from a Semitic form of writing, employing some letters that originally represented consonants for use as vowel sounds, which was used from about the beginning of the first millennium b.c. for the writing of Greek, and from which the Latin, Cyrillic, and other alphabets were derived.

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Greece.

2. the language of the ancient Greeks and any of the languages that have developed from it, as Hellenistic Greek, Biblical Greek, the Koine, and Modern Greek. Gk, Gk.

3. Informal.,  anything unintelligible, as speech, writing, etc..

   This contract is all Greek to me.

4. a member of the Greek Orthodox Church.

5. Hellenic.

6. a person who belongs to a Greek-letter fraternity or sorority.

7. Archaic: Usually Offensive.,  a cheater, especially one who cheats at cards.

Greek

/ ɡriːk /

noun

1. the official language of Greece, constituting the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages See Ancient Greek Late Greek Medieval Greek Modern Greek

2. a native or inhabitant of Greece or a descendant of such a native

3. a member of the Greek Orthodox Church

4. informal,  anything incomprehensible (esp in the phrase it's ( all ) Greek to me )

5. equals meet

adjective

1. denoting, relating to, or characteristic of Greece, the Greeks, or the Greek language; Hellenic

2. of, relating to, or designating the Greek Orthodox Church

Sensitive Note

The noun Greek in its archaic meaning of “cheater” is usually perceived as insulting to or by Greeks.

Other Word Forms

• Greekdom noun
• Greekish adjective
• anti-Greek adjective
• half-Greek adjective
• non-Greek adjective
• pre-Greek adjective
• pro-Greek adjective
• pseudo-Greek adjective
• quasi-Greek adjective
• Greekness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Greek¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English Grēcas (plural) from Latin Graecī “the Greeks” (nominative plural of Graecus ) from Greek Graikoí, plural of Graikós Greek

Word History and Origins

Origin of Greek¹

from Old English Grēcas (plural), or Latin Graecus, from Greek Graikos

Example Sentences

“It was an undivided church at that time,” said Metropolitan Emmanuel Adamakis, a Greek Orthodox bishop who helped organize the pope’s trip.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Earlier this month, the Louvre announced the closure of a gallery showcasing Greek ceramics due to structural concerns.

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Fold a touch of Greek yogurt into hand-whipped cream: the yogurt keeps it airy and adds a subtle tang that cuts through sweetness, creating tension on the tongue.

Read more on Salon

In the title role, here not a Greek king but a politician seeking election, Mr. Strong was so forceful you could practically hear the stage groaning with each step he took.

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In Damascus, Father Makarios Qalouma from a Greek Catholic parish said he was keen for the visit to bring "hope and peace" to Lebanon and Syria.

Read more on Barron's