gray en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English gray, from Old English grǣġ (West Saxon). The spelling gray reflects the West Saxon vowel development, whereas the variant grey stems from the Anglian form grēġ (through Middle English grey). Further derived from Proto-West Germanic *grāu, from Proto-Germanic *grēwaz (“grey”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰreh₁- (“to green, to grow”). Cognate with West Frisian grau (“grey”), Dutch grauw (“grey”), German Low German grau, graag (“grey”), German grau (“grey”), Swedish grå (“grey”), Icelandic grár (“grey”), Latin rāvus (“tawny, grey”), Old Church Slavonic зьрѭ (zĭrjǫ, “to see, to glance”), archaic Russian зреть (zretʹ, “to watch, to look at”), Lithuanian žeriù (“to shine”).
Meanings
- (US) Of a color between black and white, having neutral hue and intermediate brightness.
-
(US, figuratively, sometimes) Dreary, gloomy, cloudy.
It's a pretty grey outlook for England if these are a sample of the mothers of the coming generation.
1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:the era of gray, boring banality and stagnation
1980, Daniel C. Gerould, Stanisław I. Witkiewicz, The Beelzebub Sonata: Plays, Essays, Documents:
- (US) Of indistinct, disputed or uncertain quality or acceptability.
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(US) Gray-haired.
I have already gone gray and lost my looks.
-
(US) Old.
In a subculture that idealizes youth, being gay and gray does not exactly make one a hot ticket. Older gays and lesbians often relegate themselves to separate and unequal meeting places.
2004, Betty Berzon, Permanent Partners: Building Gay & Lesbian Relationships That Last, page 20:Two hours, whose mighty circle did embrace More time than might make grey the infant world, Rolled thus, a weary and tumultuous space: […]
1817 December, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “The Revolt of Islam. […]”, in [Mary] Shelley, editor, The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. […], volume I, London: Edward Moxon […], published 1839, →OCLC, page 206:
-
(US) Relating to older people.
the gray dollar
February 8, 1800, Fisher Ames, Eulogy on Washington Gray experience listened to his counsels with respect, and, at a time when youth is almost privileged to be rash, Virginia committed the safety of her frontier, and ultimately the safety of America, not merely to his valor,—for that would be scarcely praise,—but to his prudence.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| grey | alternative | lexicographic | |
| grayest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| most gray | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| grayer | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| more gray | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Deriveds
green-gray · gray hat · ash-gray leaf bug · gray man · graymap · gray ground squirrel · gray triggerfish · gray town · gray cells · gray ghost · gray matter · gray knight · give gray hair to · gray night · grayey · gray literature · gray reef shark · gray mullet · graystone · pearl gray · western gray kangaroo · gray area · ash gray · military gray · gray-blue · gray plum · gray asexual · gray wolf · back gray · gray energy · blackish-gray antshrike · give someone gray hair · eastern gray squirrel · gray power · gunmetal gray · gray magic · gray magick · grayen · ungray · grayhead · gray market · gunmetal-gray · gray teal · gray jay · insular gray fox · grayhound · gray alien · gray catbird · gray-collar · gray collar · gray amber · gray zorro · nongray · grayordinate · South American gray fox · grayschist · gray scale · gray ceiling · gray fox · dove gray · gray-sexual · iron gray · gray tape · graymuzzle · long gray line · gray rocking · grayware · grayboard · gray sole · all cats are gray at night · gray cuscus · gray divorce · blue-gray · gray whale · all cats are gray in the dark · gray angelfish · gray-haired · gray platelet syndrome · gray seal · gray treefrog · island gray fox · gray gold · gray ammonia · Payne's gray · grayromantic · grayscale · graybeard · gray langur · gray marketeer · graywater · gray commissure · graybody · gray eminence · graysexuality · silver-gray · gray noise · gray iron · gray short-tailed opossum · grayly · gray ephedra · gray squirrel · gray rock method · gray nomad · gray friar · gray-A · Patagonian gray fox · groutfit · cadet gray · gray pine · gray-headed · ash-gray · gray cardinal · grayish · gray ace · gray-box testing · grayness · gray out · dapple-gray · graysexual · get gray hair from · gray baby syndrome · battleship gray · gray rape · grayling · gray-necked bunting · eastern gray kangaroo · Gray Panther · gray dogwood · gray silver · millennial gray · cool gray · gray tree frog · periaqueductal gray · gray asexuality · gray hen · battleship-gray · gray syndrome · gray hydrogen · slate gray · gray water · gray-scale
Synonyms
dismal · moss-grown · geriatric · gray · solemn · old as Methuselah · drearisome · cobwebbed · dire · eldern · bleak · undefined · elder · auld · equivocal · silver-haired · older than the Pyramids · unclear · on in years · sullen · preserved · uncheery · ancient · unmerry · no joke · doleful · indistinct · old · white-haired · disconsolate · olden · hoary · decrepit · gray · woolly · gray / grey · unhappy · gloomsome · gerontological · griseous · dreary · wintry · forlorn · joyless · of a certain age · cobwebby · silvery-haired · drear · comfortless · gray-headed / grey-headed · turbid · imperspicuous · grisly · age-old · somber · mirthless · depressing · hoary · nebulous · fuzzy · grayish · gamol · senior · older than the hills · venerable · geriatric · matured · wintry · bleak · old as the hills · spiritless · grizzly · desolate · miserable · gayless · grizzled · sombre · hoary · hoary · long in the tooth · imprecise · over the hill · superannuated · murky · melancholy · aged · grayish / greyish · uncheerful · uncertain · eld · morose · undefinable · mouldy · grisescent · antediluvian · wooly · cobwebbed · lugubrious · cheerless · grizzly · dark · sunless · white-haired · older than dirt · gray · grey-haired / gray-haired · indefinite · generic · lack-laughter · dreich · dolesome · ambiguous · wintry · gray / grey · fuzzy · grayey / greyey · vague · old as the Pyramids · woeful · elder · gloomy · gerontologic · grizzly · elderly · indeterminate · silver-haired · sombre · saturnine · ivy-covered · grim
Translations (292)
th เทา (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mnc ᠪᠣᡵᠣ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ln mbwé (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sv grå (dreary, gloomy) · kmr gewr (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · lt žilas (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sa पलित (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · si අළු (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · cmn 灰色 (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · es gris (dreary, gloomy) · sv i en gråzon (indistinct, disputed, uncertain) · ast gris (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ko 회색(灰色)의 (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · rm greisch (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · uk сі́рий (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · km ប្រផេះ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nrf gris (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · vi buồn (dreary, gloomy) · ko 잿빛의 (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · vi buồn bã (dreary, gloomy) · mi hinauri (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · goh grāo (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · gsw graau (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nan 灰色 (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ga glas (dreary, gloomy) · mfe gri (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · is grár (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sh siv (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · xdq гъурша (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nrf gris (dreary, gloomy) · it grigio (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nb grå (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · scn grisu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · grc πολιός (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · tl abuhin (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · an griso (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ca gris (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ar أَشْهَب (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nan 殕色 (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · gd liath (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · bg сив (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · tr gri (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ms kelabu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ay ch'ixi (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · vo gedik (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ang fealu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · tl kulay-abo (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nl grijs (dreary, gloomy) · mn саарал (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sw kijivu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ur خاکِسْتَری (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ttg kalabu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ms abu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · uz sur (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · uz kul (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · id abu-abu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · hy գորշ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · hop maasi (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mi pūhina (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · de grau (dreary, gloomy) · zza bor (diq) (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · vi ảm đậm (dreary, gloomy) · tt соры (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · gl gris (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nap criscio (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · uz kulrang (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · hil abóhon (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · kk шал (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sk sivý (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mr करडा (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · af grys (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · lij grixo (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sv tråkig (dreary, gloomy) · osx grāo (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ce мокха (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · moe kauapinuat (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · hu gyászos (dreary, gloomy) · fo gráur (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · tk çal (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · wuu 灰色 (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ht gri (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · gl borrallento (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ast gris (dreary, gloomy) · pt gris (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · frr gre (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · he אָפוֹר (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · az بوْز (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ky сур (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ky боз (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · la pullus (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · yue 灰色 (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · qu uqi (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · cic shobbokoli (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · hu borongós (dreary, gloomy) · ru седо́й (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ofs grē (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · fy griis (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ig isi awọ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ota قیر (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · om daalacha (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · gl cincento (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · hy մոխրագույն (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · pl siwy (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · lmo grisa (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · la cinereus (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · te నెరిసిన (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ar رَمَادِيّ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · my မီးခိုးရောင် (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mk сур (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · str NEW̱IQ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mk сив (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · fi harmaa (dreary, gloomy) · gd glas (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · yi גרוי (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · de grau (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · naq ǀhāi (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · fr gris (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · hu szürke (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nuk ƛintmisp̕iqak (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ja 灰色 (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · pt cinza (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ml ചാരം (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · gsw graaw (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · so bey (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · lv sirms (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · io griza (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ajp رمادي (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mr करडे (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mhr лудо (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · pdt greiw (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · he אַפְרוּרִי (dreary, gloomy) · br louet (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · es gris (indistinct, disputed, uncertain) · cs šedý (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · et hall (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nl grijs (indistinct, disputed, uncertain) · mwl cinza (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · scn griciu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · el φαιός (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ja ぼんやり (indistinct, disputed, uncertain) · nv łibá (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ru се́рый (dreary, gloomy) · kw loos (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ang græg (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · bsb kalabu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · fa-ira خاکِسْتَری (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · et hall (dreary, gloomy) · ne फुस्रो (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · kk сұр (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · su hawuk (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · az çal (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sn gireyi (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · frr gra (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · az بوز (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sv grå (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · et hall (indistinct, disputed, uncertain) · da grå (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nl grauw (dreary, gloomy) · fr gris (dreary, gloomy) · fr gris (indistinct, disputed, uncertain) · yo àwo eléerú (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · pt cinzento (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · hu ősz (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ttt bur (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · lmo gris (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · bn ধূসর (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sv dyster (dreary, gloomy) · kmr bor (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mwl cinzento (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · tr boz (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sl siv (dreary, gloomy) · uli greey (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ang hasu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · fi ankea (dreary, gloomy) · mr करडी (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ga glas (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · scn griggiu (Italianized) (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ta சாம்பல் நிறம் (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sh siva (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · pl szary (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · az boz (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ak nso (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · pt sombrio (dreary, gloomy) · se ránis (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · lou gri (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · yi גראָ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ceb abohon (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ru си́вый (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ro sur (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sh сива (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · hil baúg (dreary, gloomy) · eo griza (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · kg ya putulu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · kn ಬೂದು (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · vi u ám (dreary, gloomy) · ur سُرْمَئی (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · cv сӑрӑ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · kl qasertoq (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ltg palāks (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mi māhinahina (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · rap 'ehu 'ehu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ja あやふや (indistinct, disputed, uncertain) · es gris (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mr राखाडी (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · tg хокистарӣ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · hur tsxwíkw' (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · frr grai (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ka ნაცრისფერი (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mi pūmā (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nds-de gris (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mg volom-batolalaka (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · evn игдяма (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · dsb šery (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ru се́рый (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · vec grìso (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ga liath (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ba һоро (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ce сира (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · kxd kalabu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · cy llwyd (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sv trist (dreary, gloomy) · nrf gris (indistinct, disputed, uncertain) · gl chumbo (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · izh harmaa (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · su dawuk (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · lv pelēks (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ur دُھوسَر (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · la rāvus (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · eu gris (dreary, gloomy) · be шэ́ры (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · oc gris (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · lt pilkas (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nl grijs (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · alt чал (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · acw رَمادي (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · frr grä (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · chr ᎤᏍᎪᎸ ᏌᎪᏂᎨ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · fi harmaa (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · tr kır (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ajp سكني (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · vi hoa râm (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sl siv (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ps خړ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · fi synkkä (dreary, gloomy) · el γκρίζος (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mi pūhinahina (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · lo ສີສວາດ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sh сив (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ltg sierms (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · grc κιλλός (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ar رَصَاصِيّ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ja 曖昧な (indistinct, disputed, uncertain) · nan 灰仔色 (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ky көк (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · gu નિસ્તેજ (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ar أَشْيَب (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · vi âm u (dreary, gloomy) · gl aborrallado (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · fa-ira توسی (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ro cenușiu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nds-de graag (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · sq hirtë (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ary رمادي (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · eu gris (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ro brumăriu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · nv dinilbá (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · hur tshwikw' (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mt griż (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · tab буз (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · hil baúg (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ss mphunga (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ka რუხი (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · mi kiwikiwi (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · tg хокистариранг (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · vi (màu) xám (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · alt бос (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · vi rầu rĩ (dreary, gloomy) · rm grisch (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · su kulawu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · grc φαιός (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · la canus (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ja 鼠色 (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · tyv куу (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · vi rầu (dreary, gloomy) · hi धूसर (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · vi âm u (dreary, gloomy) · fy grau (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · kwk igistu (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · rcf gri (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · aln hini (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · ne कैलो (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders) · hsb šěry (of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders)