gray
gb/ɡɹˈeɪ/ us/ɡɹˈeɪ/
A1
English
~ 3600
szürke, komor, sivár, ősz, nem egyértelmű, szürke zóna
A1
1
szürke
A1
Usage pattern:
[something] is gray
The sky was gray and overcast all day.
She wore a long gray coat to the meeting.
His hair turned gray as he got older.
The walls were painted a soft gray to match the furniture.
Learner examples
The cat is gray.
I see a gray cloud.
Her shirt is gray.
My car is gray.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'gray' with 'silver'; silver usually has a shiny or metallic quality.
Meaning
Color between black and white
Collocations
gray hair
|gray sky
|gray eyes
|gray suit
Synonyms
ashen (Often used for pale or sickly appearance rather than neutral color)
|
silver (Refers to a shiny or metallic gray)
Antonyms
white (Opposite end of the lightness scale)
|
black (Opposite end of the darkness scale)
Themes
colors
|appearance
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having a color that is between black and white.
Having a color that is a mixture of black and white, without strong hue.
NOUN
A1
2
szürke
A1
Usage pattern:
the gray of [something]
I like the soft gray of the sweater.
Tetszik a pulóver lágy szürke árnyalata.
Artists use gray to create shadows.
A művészek szürkét használnak az árnyékok ábrázolásához.
The painting had many shades of gray.
Learner examples
Gray is my favorite color.
A szürke a kedvenc színem.
The wall is painted gray.
A fal szürkére van festve.
I see many grays in the picture.
Meaning
The color gray
Collocations
shades of gray
|light gray
|dark gray
Synonyms
ash (A pale, muted shade of gray)
Antonyms
white (Lightest possible shade)
|
black (Darkest possible shade)
Themes
colors
|art
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A color that is between black and white.
A color that is a mixture of black and white, without strong hue.
B1
3
Usage pattern:
[something] feels gray
It was a gray morning, both in weather and mood.
Komor reggel volt, időjárásban és hangulatban egyaránt.
The office felt gray and lifeless after the layoffs.
Az iroda a leépítések után sivárnak és élettelennek tűnt.
Her life seemed gray after the loss.
Learner examples
It is a gray day today.
Ma szürke nap van.
The room feels gray and cold.
A szoba sivárnak és hidegnek hat.
He has felt gray since the news.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this figurative use with the literal color meaning; context usually clarifies it.
Meaning
Dull or gloomy in mood or appearance
Collocations
gray day
|gray mood
Synonyms
dreary (Emphasizes boredom and monotony)
|
gloomy (Stronger sense of darkness and sadness)
Antonyms
bright (Full of light and cheerfulness)
|
cheerful (Full of happiness)
Themes
emotions
|weather
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Looking or feeling sad, dull, or without energy.
Dull, dreary, or depressing in mood, appearance, or atmosphere.
A2
4
ősz
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] has gray hair
He’s a tall man with gray hair.
Ő egy magas, ősz hajú férfi.
Her father grew a thick, gray beard.
Az apja sűrű, ősz szakállt növesztett.
By fifty, his hair was completely gray.
Learner examples
My teacher has gray hair.
A tanáromnak ősz a haja.
She has a small gray beard on her chin.
Van egy kis ősz szakálla az állán.
His hair is gray now.
Meaning
Hair color from aging
Collocations
gray beard
|gray-haired man
Synonyms
silver-haired (More poetic or flattering term for gray-haired)
Antonyms
dark-haired (Hair that is naturally dark)
|
blond-haired (Hair that is naturally light yellow)
Themes
appearance
|aging
|body
|health
Definition
Having hair that is white or silver because of getting older.
Having hair that has turned partly or fully white or silver due to aging.
B2
5
szürke zóna
B2
The law on this issue is still in a gray area.
Ebben a kérdésben a jogi szabályozás még mindig szürke zónának számít.
His position on the matter was rather gray.
Az ügyben elfoglalt álláspontja nem volt igazán egyértelmű.
Morality can sometimes be a gray concept.
Learner examples
This rule is in a gray area.
Ez a szabály szürke zónába esik.
It is a gray answer, not yes or no.
Ez nem egyértelmű válasz: se nem igen, se nem nem.
Some ideas are in the gray zone.
Meaning
Not clearly one thing or another
Collocations
gray area
Synonyms
ambiguous (More formal; unclear meaning)
|
indefinite (Lacking fixed limits)
Antonyms
clear-cut (Completely clear and easy to decide)
|
definite (Fixed and certain)
Themes
ideas
|decisions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not clear or sure; between two different things.
Not having a clear position, category, or distinction; intermediate between two extremes.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gray
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈeɪ/
US/ɡɹˈeɪ/
Syllables & stress
gray (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (gray)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: gray
- Comparative: grayer
- Superlative: grayest
Noun
- Base: gray
- Plural: gray, grays
Word family
Forms
grays
noun
grayer
adjective
grayest
adjective
Core family
grayish
adjective
Related words
grey
adjective A1
Advanced or less common
grayness
noun
Expressions
gray matter
2/ɡɹˈeɪ mˈætɚ/
idiom
Brain power or intelligence
The part of the brain used for thinking; intelligence.
Examples
- You need to use your gray matter to solve this problem.
- Reading helps develop your gray matter.
gray skies
3/ɡɹˈeɪ skˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
Cloudy sky appearing gray in color
When the sky looks gray because it is full of clouds.
Examples
- We woke up to gray skies this morning.
- Gray skies made the city look dull.
gray area
1/ɡɹˈeɪ ˈɛɹiə/
idiom
Unclear situation without definite rules
A situation where it is not clear what is right or wrong, legal or illegal.
Examples
- The law on this matter is a gray area.
- The rules about online privacy are still a gray area.
- Online privacy rules are still a gray area.
- That contract falls into a legal gray area.