grey

¹

[ grey ]

adjective

, grey·er, grey·est,

1. Chiefly British. a variant of gray ¹.

Grey

²

[ grey ]

noun

1. Charles, 2nd Earl, 1764–1845, British statesman: prime minister 1830–34.
2. Sir Edward Viscount Fallodon, 1862–1933, British statesman.
3. Sir George, 1812–98, British statesman and colonial administrator: prime minister of New Zealand 1877–79.
4. Lady Jane Lady Jane Dudley, 1537–54, descendant of Henry VII of England; executed under orders of Mary I to eliminate her as a rival for the throne.
5. Zane [zeyn], 1875–1939, U.S. novelist.

grey

¹

/ ɡreɪ /

adjective

1. of a neutral tone, intermediate between black and white, that has no hue and reflects and transmits only a little light
2. greyish in colour or having parts or marks that are greyish
3. dismal or dark, esp from lack of light; gloomy
4. neutral or dull, esp in character or opinion
5. having grey hair
6. of or relating to people of middle age or above

   grey power

7. ancient; venerable
8. (of textiles) natural, unbleached, undyed, and untreated

noun

1. any of a group of grey tones
2. grey cloth or clothing

   dressed in grey

3. an animal, esp a horse, that is grey or whitish

verb

1. to become or make grey

Grey

²

/ ɡreɪ /

noun

1. GreyCharles, 2nd Earl Grey17641845MBritishPOLITICS: statesmanPOLITICS: prime minister Charles, 2nd Earl Grey. 1764–1845, British statesman. As Whig prime minister (1830–34), he carried the Reform Bill of 1832 and the bill for the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire (1833)
2. GreySir Edward, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon18621933MBritishPOLITICS: statesman Sir Edward, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon. 1862–1933, British statesman; foreign secretary (1905–16)
3. GreySir George18121898MBritishPOLITICS: statesmanPOLITICS: colonial administrator Sir George. 1812–98, British statesman and colonial administrator; prime minister of New Zealand (1877–79)
4. GreyJane, Lady15371554FEnglishPOLITICS: hereditary ruler Lady Jane. 1537–54, queen of England (July 9–19, 1553); great-granddaughter of Henry VII. Her father-in-law, the Duke of Northumberland, persuaded Edward VI to alter the succession in her favour, but after ten days as queen she was imprisoned and later executed
5. GreyZane18751939MUSWRITING: author of Westerns Zane. 1875–1939, US author of Westerns, including Riders of the Purple Sage (1912)

Derived Forms

• ˈgreyly, adverb
• ˈgreyish, adjective
• ˈgreyness, noun

Other Words From

• greyly adverb
• greyness noun
• un·greyed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of grey¹

Old English grǣg; related to Old High German grāo, Old Norse grar

Idioms and Phrases

see gray .

Example Sentences

Krasinski's title follows last year's popular winner, "Grey's Anatomy" veteran Patrick Dempsey.

From Salon

You don't just stay in the horror lane, you have been recurring on "Grey's Anatomy."

From Salon

Lesh remained with the Dead through their unexpected upswing in popularity in the late 1980s and early ’90s, a revival partially fueled by the band’s only Top 40 hit, “Touch of Grey.”

From Los Angeles Times

These falsehoods inspired some “Grey’s” episodes and were central to essays she published in high-profile outlets.

From Los Angeles Times

The film also stars British actor Will Sharpe as the tour guide and Dirty Dancing's Jennifer Grey as one of the other tourists.

From BBC