gray
1[ grey ]
/ greɪ /
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adjective, gray·er, gray·est.
noun
verb (used with or without object)
to make or become gray.
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Question 1 of 7
“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
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Also especially British, grey .
Origin of gray
1First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English grǣg; cognate with German grau
OTHER WORDS FROM gray
grayly; especially British, greyly, adverbgrayness; especially British, greyness, nounun·grayed; especially British, un·greyed, adjectiveWords nearby gray
Definition for gray (2 of 3)
gray2
[ grey ]
/ greɪ /
noun Physics.
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). Abbreviation: Gy
Compare rad1.
Origin of gray
2First recorded in 1975; named in honor of Louis Harold Gray (1905–65), English radiobiologist
Definition for gray (3 of 3)
Gray
[ grey ]
/ greɪ /
noun
A·sa [ey-suh], /ˈeɪ sə/, 1810–88, U.S. botanist.
Robert, 1755–1806, U.S. explorer and sea captain: discovered the Columbia River.
Thomas, 1716–71, English poet.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
GRAY VS. GREY
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.
Quiz yourself on gray vs. grey!
True or False?
The words gray and grey are always used to refer to slightly different colors.
Example sentences from the Web for gray
British Dictionary definitions for gray (1 of 3)
Derived forms of gray
grayish, adjectivegrayly, adverbgrayness, nounBritish Dictionary definitions for gray (2 of 3)
gray2
/ (ɡreɪ) /
noun
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 radsSymbol: Gy
Word Origin for gray
C20: named after Louis Harold Gray (1905–65), English physicist
British Dictionary definitions for gray (3 of 3)
Gray
/ (ɡreɪ) /
noun
Thomas. 1716–71, English poet, best known for his Elegy written in a Country Churchyard (1751)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for gray (1 of 2)
gray
[ grā ]
n.
A unit for a specific absorbed dose of radiation equal to 100 rads.
Medical definitions for gray (2 of 2)
Gray
Henry 1825?-1861
British anatomist whose work Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical (1858), known as Gray's Anatomy, remains a standard text.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for gray
gray
[ grā ]
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).
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with gray
gray
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.