grey
gb/ɡɹˈeɪ/ us/ɡɹˈeɪ/
A1
English
~ 2000
szürke, lehangoló, ősz, tisztázatlan, nem egyértelmű, szürke zóna
A1
1
szürke
A1
Usage pattern:
[something] is grey
The sky turned grey before the storm.
A vihar előtt szürkévé vált az ég.
She wore a long grey coat.
Hosszú szürke kabátot viselt.
His hair was turning grey with age.
The kitten had soft grey fur.
Learner examples
The cat is grey.
A macska szürke.
Her dress is grey.
A ruhája szürke.
I see a grey car.
The clouds are grey.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'grey' with 'silver' when describing objects with a shiny metallic surface.
Meaning
Having a color between black and white
Collocations
grey hair
|grey sky
|grey eyes
|grey suit
|grey stone
Synonyms
gray (Alternative spelling, chiefly used in American English.)
|
ash-colored (A slightly more specific shade of grey, resembling ash.)
Antonyms
white (The lightest color, opposite to black and lighter than grey.)
|
black (The darkest color, opposite to white and darker than grey.)
Themes
colors
|appearance
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having a color that is between black and white.
Of a color intermediate between black and white, often with shades of both.
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[something] is grey
It was a cold, grey morning in November.
Hideg, szürke novemberi reggel volt.
Her life felt grey after the move to the city.
A városba költözés után szürkének tűnt az élete.
The office has a grey, lifeless atmosphere.
Learner examples
It is a grey day.
Szürke nap van.
The room looks grey.
A szoba lehangolónak tűnik.
I feel grey today.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse the literal color meaning of 'grey' with this figurative sense, using it incorrectly for purely visual description when they mean emotional tone.
Meaning
Dull or lacking cheerfulness
Collocations
grey day
|grey mood
|grey world
Synonyms
dull (Similar in meaning but can also apply to sounds or performance.)
|
drab (More strongly suggests boredom and lifelessness.)
Antonyms
bright (Full of light or vivid in appearance.)
|
cheerful (Full of happiness and positivity.)
Themes
emotions
|descriptions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not bright or happy; dull and without color or excitement.
Lacking brightness, cheer, or interest; dull and dreary in appearance or mood.
NOUN
A1
3
szürke
A1
She painted the walls in soft grey.
Lágy szürkére festette a falakat.
Grey is my favorite color.
A szürke a kedvenc színem.
The artist used many shades of grey.
Learner examples
My shirt is grey.
Az ingem szürke.
Grey is a nice color.
A szürke szép szín.
I like grey.
Meaning
Color between black and white
Collocations
shade of grey
|light grey
|dark grey
Synonyms
gray (Alternative spelling used in American English.)
Antonyms
white (The lightest color.)
|
black (The darkest color.)
Themes
colors
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The color between black and white.
A color that is intermediate between black and white.
A2
4
ősz
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] has grey hair
His once-black hair was now completely grey.
Egykor fekete haja most már teljesen ősz volt.
She had a head full of thick, grey curls.
Dús, ősz fürtök borították a fejét.
Grey-haired elders gathered in the hall.
Learner examples
My grandfather has grey hair.
A nagyapámnak ősz haja van.
She has grey hair now.
Most már ősz haja van.
His beard is grey.
Meaning
Hair whitish from age
Collocations
grey beard
|grey-haired man
Synonyms
grizzled (Describes hair streaked with grey, often in older people.)
Antonyms
youthful-haired (Not a common phrase; indicates hair retaining original color at a younger stage.)
Themes
appearance
|age
|body
|health
Definition
When a person's hair turns white or silver because they are old.
Having hair that has become whitish or silver due to aging.
B2
5
The law on this issue is still a grey area.
Ebben a kérdésben a jogi szabályozás még mindig szürke zóna.
His role in the project was somewhat grey.
A projektben betöltött szerepe kissé tisztázatlan volt.
Ethics often fall into a grey zone.
Learner examples
This rule is a grey area.
Ez a szabály nem egyértelmű.
It is a grey topic.
Ez egy tisztázatlan téma.
That is a grey case.
Meaning
Not clearly defined or decided
Collocations
grey area
Synonyms
ambiguous (Unclear in meaning or position.)
|
uncertain (Not known or decided.)
Antonyms
clear-cut (Obvious and easy to understand or decide.)
Themes
descriptions
|logic
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not clear; not one thing or the other.
Not clearly belonging to one side or another; ambiguous or undefined in nature.
Grammar
Dictionary form
grey
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈeɪ/
US/ɡɹˈeɪ/
Syllables & stress
grey (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (grey)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: grey
- Comparative: greyer
- Superlative: greyest
Noun
- Base: grey
- Plural: grey, greys
Word family
Forms
greys
noun
greyer
adjective
greyest
adjective
Related words
Expressions
grey area
1/ɡɹˈeɪ ˈɛɹiə/
fixed phrase
Unclear or undefined situation
A situation that is not clear or easy to decide about.
Examples
- Data privacy laws are still a grey area for many companies.
- This part of the agreement is something of a grey area.
grey matter
1/ɡɹˈeɪ mˈætɚ/
fixed phrase
Brain tissue or intelligence
Your brain, especially your ability to think and understand things.
Examples
- Use your grey matter before making that decision.
- Scientists studied the effects of aging on grey matter.
grey skies
1/ɡɹˈeɪ skˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
Cloudy, dull skies
When the sky looks cloudy and dull, like it will rain soon.
Examples
- We woke up to grey skies and drizzle.
- Grey skies often make me feel sleepy.