gray

¹ American  

[grey] / greɪ /

noun

Physics.

1. the standard unit of absorbed dose of radiation (such as x-rays) in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the amount of ionizing radiation absorbed when the energy imparted to matter is 1 J/kg (one joule per kilogram). Gy

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gray ² American  

[grey] / greɪ /

especially British, grey

adjective

grayer, grayest

1. of a color between white and black; having a neutral hue.

2. dark, dismal, or gloomy.

   gray skies.

3. dull, dreary, or monotonous.

4. having gray hair; gray-headed.

5. pertaining to old age; mature.

6. Informal. pertaining to, involving, or composed of older persons.

   gray households.

7. old or ancient.

8. indeterminate and intermediate in character.

   The tax audit concentrated on deductions in the gray area between purely personal and purely business expenses.

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noun

1. any achromatic color; any color with zero chroma, intermediate between white and black.

2. something of this color.

3. gray material or clothing.

   to dress in gray.

4. an unbleached and undyed condition.

5. (often initial capital letter) a member of the Confederate army in the American Civil War or the army itself.

6. a horse of a gray color.

7. a horse that appears white but is not an albino.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become gray.

Gray ³ American  

[grey] / greɪ /

noun

1. Asa 1810–88, U.S. botanist.

2. Robert, 1755–1806, U.S. explorer and sea captain: discovered the Columbia River.

3. Thomas, 1716–71, English poet.

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Gray ¹ British  

/ ɡreɪ /

noun

1. Thomas. 1716–71, English poet, best known for his Elegy written in a Country Churchyard (1751)

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gray ² British  

/ ɡreɪ /

noun

1.  Gy.  the derived SI unit of absorbed ionizing radiation dose or kerma equivalent to an absorption per unit mass of one joule per kilogram of irradiated material. 1 gray is equivalent to 100 rads

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gray ³ British  

/ ɡreɪ /

adjective

1. a variant spelling (now esp US) of grey

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gray Scientific  

/ grā /

1. The SI derived unit used to measure the energy absorbed by a substance per unit weight of the substance when exposed to radiation. One gray is equal to one joule per kilogram, or 100 rads. The gray is named after British physicist Louis Harold Gray (1905–1965).

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gray Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing gray

• get gray hair from

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Usage

What’s the difference between gray and grey? Gray and grey are simply different spellings of the same word, which refers to the color halfway between black and white (among other more figurative meanings).In popular use, the two spellings are used interchangeably, though one spelling is often preferred in many places. The spelling gray is much more common in American English, while grey is more common in British English.Remember: spell gray with an a in America, and spell grey with an e in England (among other places).Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between gray and grey.

Other Word Forms

• grayish adjective
• grayly adverb
• grayness noun
• ungrayed adjective

Etymology

Origin of gray¹

First recorded in 1975; named in honor of Louis Harold Gray (1905–65), English radiobiologist

Origin of gray¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English grei, grai, Old English grǣg, grēg; cognate with German grau, Old Norse grār

Example Sentences

We got out and stared slack-jawed at the deep pile of gray ash, and the painted number on the curb, 1160, all that was left.

From Los Angeles Times

California’s gray whales have been considered an environmental success story since the passage of the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act and 1986’s global ban on commercial whaling.

From Los Angeles Times

I grew up in San Jose, Calif., in a dark gray 1920s English-style cottage with a red front door.

From The Wall Street Journal

I thought Alex was pretty cute in his light maroon jacket — the kind that’s perfect for those May gray evenings and one that highlighted his wispy blond hair.

From Los Angeles Times

The way the yes-or-no questions are worded can make a huge difference, and the way event outcomes are interpreted can be gray and murky.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• drab
• dusty
• silvery