gray

¹gray

adj \ˈgrā\

Definition of GRAY

1

a : of the color gray b : tending toward gray <blue-gray eyes> c : dull in color

2

: having the hair gray : hoary

3

: clothed in gray

4

a : lacking cheer or brightness in mood, outlook, style, or flavor; also : dismal, gloomy <a gray day> b : prosaically ordinary : dull, uninteresting

5

: having an intermediate and often vaguely defined position, condition, or character <an ethically gray area>

— gray·ly adverb

— gray·ness noun

Variants of GRAY

gray also grey \ˈgrā\

Examples of GRAY

1. What will you do when you are old and gray?
2. My friends have all gone gray.
3. It was a gray winter day.
4. the gray faces of the people in the crowd

Origin of GRAY

Middle English, from Old English grǣg; akin to Old High German grīs, grāo gray

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to GRAY

Synonyms: argentine, grayish, leaden, pewter, silver, silvery, slate, slaty (also slatey), steely

Antonyms: bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery, comforting, cordial, festive, friendly, gay, heartwarming, sunshiny

Related Words: achromatic, colorless, neutral; dirty, dull, faded, sad, washed-out; ashen, ashy, chalky, livid, mousy (or mousey), pale, palish, white, whitish; chocolate, dun, sandy, sepia; brindled (or brindle), grizzled, hoar, hoary

Near Antonyms: ablaze, bright, deep, gay, rich; chromatic, colored; colorful, motley, multicolored, polychromatic, polychrome, varicolored, variegated

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion