( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually gray ) / greɪ; NAmE / adjective , noun , verb
■ adjective
1.
having the colour of smoke or ashes :
grey eyes / hair
wisps of grey smoke
a grey suit
2.
[ not usually before noun ] having grey hair :
He's gone very grey.
3.
( of a person's skin colour ) pale and dull, because they are ill / sick, tired or sad
4.
( of the sky or weather ) dull; full of clouds :
grey skies
I hate these grey days.
5.
without interest or variety; making you feel sad :
Life seems grey and pointless without him.
6.
( disapproving ) not interesting or attractive :
The company was full of faceless grey men who all looked the same.
7.
[ only before noun ] connected with old people :
the grey vote
grey power
► grey·ness ( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually gray·ness ) noun [ U , sing. ]
■ noun
1.
[ U , C ] the colour of smoke or ashes :
the dull grey of the sky
dressed in grey
2.
[ C ] a grey or white horse :
She's riding the grey.
■ verb
[ v ] ( of hair ) to become grey :
His hair was greying at the sides.
a tall woman with greying hair
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English grǣg , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch grauw and German grau .