grey
/grei/ Cách viết khác : (gray) /grei/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Of a color between black and white: Having a color like that of ashes, lead, or a cloudy sky.
- Dull, nondescript, or lacking in character: Lacking brightness, vividness, or distinctness; indeterminate.
- Relating to old age: Having hair that has turned white or silver, often used to signify age.
- Gloomy or dismal: Characterized by a lack of cheer; dreary.
Noun:
- A color: Any shade between black and white.
- Something of this color: For example, clothing of a grey color or a horse with a grey coat.
- An indeterminate or intermediate area: A situation or concept that is not clearly defined.
Verb:
- To become grey: To change color to grey, especially referring to hair.
- To make grey: To cause something to become grey in color.
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- The sky was a dull grey before the storm.
- He has a grey beard.
- The issue is not black and white; it's a grey area.
- Noun:
- She prefers to wear grey.
- The painting uses many shades of grey.
- Verb:
- His hair is starting to grey at the temples.
- The old photograph had greyed with age.
Advanced Usage
- "Grey matter": Informal term for intelligence or intellect, derived from the greyish tissue of the brain.
- You need to use your grey matter to solve this puzzle.
- "A grey area": A situation or topic that is not clearly defined, where rules or morality are ambiguous.
- The ethics of this new technology are a real grey area.
Variants and Related Words
- Gray: The standard spelling in American English. "Grey" is more common in British English.
- Greyish (adj.): Somewhat grey.
- The walls were painted a greyish blue.
- Greying (adj., v.): The process of becoming grey.
- His greying hair made him look distinguished.
Synonyms
- Ashen, silver, slate, leaden (for color).
- Drab, dull, murky, somber (for mood or lack of vividness).
- Hoary, grizzled (for hair with age).
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Grey out (computing): To display an item (like a menu option) in a lighter grey color to indicate it is currently unavailable or disabled.
- The "Save" button is greyed out until you enter a filename.
Related Idioms
- "Grey power": The social and economic influence of elderly people.
- Politicians are paying more attention to grey power.
- "A grey eminence" (or éminence grise): A person who exercises power or influence in a discreet or behind-the-scenes way.
- He was the CEO's grey eminence, shaping policy without public recognition.
Verb
- turn grey
- Her hair began to grey
- make grey
- The painter decided to grey the sky
Adjective
- intermediate in character or position
- a grey area between clearly legal and strictly illegal
- used to signify the Confederate forces in the American Civil War (who wore grey uniforms)
- a stalwart grey figure
- showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair
- whose beard with age is hoar-Coleridge
- nodded his hoary head
- of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
- the little grey cells
- gray flannel suit
- a man with greyish hair
Noun
- horse of a light gray or whitish color
- clothing that is a grey color
- he was dressed in grey
- a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
- any organization or party whose uniforms or badges are grey
- the Confederate army was a vast grey
- Englishman who as Prime Minister implemented social reforms including the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire (1764-1845)
- Queen of England for nine days in 1553; she was quickly replaced by Mary Tudor and beheaded for treason (1537-1554)
- United States writer of western adventure novels (1875-1939)