grey area
An area intermediate between two mutually exclusive states or categories, where the border between the two is fuzzy or ill-defined.
It exists in a grey area between legal and illegal.
grey
/ɡɹeɪ/
name 5adj 2noun 2verb 1
Collocations
9(adj.) of the colour between black and white
ADV
very
After the storm, the buildings downtown looked very grey and unwelcoming.
quite, rather, slightly
ADJ
dark
light, pale
The walls of the bedroom were painted a pale grey, which made the small space feel calm and peaceful.
silvery, slate
(adj.) with grey hair
VERBS
be
go, turn
Her hair started to turn grey after years of working long hours at the hospital.
ADV
very
completely
His hair turned completely grey after years of working as a hospital doctor.
Definitions
adj
1
Commonwealth standard spelling of gray.
These grey and dun colors may be also produced by mixing whites and blacks.
This is itself a cheerless spot, particularly on a rainy day, when, overshadowed by the great massif of rock that towers in the background, and surrounded by the grey and cheerless quarries, it has a depressing character much in contrast with the green verdure encountered on the northern end of this interesting branch line.
2
Synonym of coloured (pertaining to the mixed race of black and white).
verb
1
Commonwealth standard spelling of gray.
Now only a few hand-hewn cedar planks and roof beams remained, moss-grown and sagging—a few totem poles, greyed and split.
noun
1
Commonwealth standard spelling of gray.
Woe worth the chase, woe worth the day, / That costs thy life, my gallant grey.
Pioneer seemed now to have the game in his own hands; but the Captain, by taking two desperate leaps, cut off a corner, by which he regained the ground he had lost by the fall, and was up with the grey the remainder of the chase.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
noun — horse of a light gray or whitish color
noun — clothing that is a grey color
noun — a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
- gray
- grayness
- greyness
noun — any organization or party whose uniforms or badges are grey
verb — turn grey
verb — make grey
adjective — of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between
- gray
- greyish
- grayish
adjective — intermediate in character or position
adjective — used to signify the Confederate forces in the American Civil
adjective — showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or wh
- gray
- grey-haired
- gray-haired
- grey-headed
- gray-headed
- grizzly
- hoar
- hoary
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
grey matter
Brains; a person's ability to think.
"I'd better be putting my grey matter into that algebra instead of wasting it plotting for a party dress that I certainly can't get."
all cats are grey in the dark
Sex is enjoyable regardless of the physical attractiveness or social station of one's partner.
[Of a widow:] And to make carnall appetite content, To take lacke of beautie but as an eye ſore. The fayre and the foule, by darke are lyke ſtore. When all candels be out, all cats
all cats are grey at night
Alternative form of all cats are grey in the dark.
No matter how capable and cultivated the mind, how subtle and sensitive the spirit, the individual Negro is still not free. "All cats are grey at night," and it is still long hours
all cats are grey by night
Alternative form of all cats are grey in the dark.
Example Bank
601
These grey and dun colors may be also produced by mixing whites and blacks.
Wiktionary02
This is itself a cheerless spot, particularly on a rainy day, when, overshadowed by the great massif of rock that towers in the background, and surrounded by the grey and cheerless quarries, it has a
Wiktionary03
Now only a few hand-hewn cedar planks and roof beams remained, moss-grown and sagging—a few totem poles, greyed and split.
Wiktionary04
Woe worth the chase, woe worth the day, / That costs thy life, my gallant grey.
Wiktionary05
Pioneer seemed now to have the game in his own hands; but the Captain, by taking two desperate leaps, cut off a corner, by which he regained the ground he had lost by the fall, and was up with the gre
Wiktionary06
All cats are grey in the dark.
Tatoeba · #2350Usage Notes
i Register
In some senses, grey is marked as slang, UK, historical. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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