gray
pronunciation
How to pronounce gray in British English:
UK [greɪ]
How to pronounce gray in American English:
US [ɡre]
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- Noun:
- a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
- gray clothing
- any organization or party whose uniforms or badges are gray
- horse of a light grey or whitish color
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- Verb:
- make gray
- turn gray
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- Adjective:
- an achromatic color of any lightness between the extremes of black and white
- showing characteristics of age, especially having gray or white hair
- darkened with overcast
- used to signify the Confederate forces in the Civil War (who wore gray uniforms)
- intermediate in character or position
Word Origin
- gray (adj.)
- "of a color between white and black; having little or no color or luminosity," Old English græg "gray" (Mercian grei), from Proto-Germanic *grewa- "gray" (cognates: Old Norse grar, Old Frisian gre, Middle Dutch gra, Dutch graw, Old High German grao, German grau), with no certain connections outside Germanic. French gris, Spanish gris, Italian grigio, Medieval Latin griseus are Germanic loan-words. The spelling distinction between British grey and U.S. gray developed 20c. Expression the gray mare is the better horse in reference to households ruled by wives is recorded from 1540s.
- gray (n.)
- c. 1200, from gray (adj.). Gray as figurative for "Southern troops in the U.S. Civil War" is first recorded 1863, in reference to their uniform color.
- gray (v.)
- "become gray, wither," 1610s (with an isolated instance from late 14c.), from gray (adj.). Related: Grayed; graying.
Example
- 1. Her last gift to him was a gray tie .
- 2. The dummy is wearing a gray outfit intended for jumping into the forest and protects from branches and other sharp objects .
- 3. Because it can tone down the gray hair color , it may be considered to be a real hair dying product .
- 4. Replace gray and white walls with color .
- 5. I live in a white and gray apartment .