SINCE 1828

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gray scale

noun

Updated on: 4 Mar 2018

Definition of gray scale

: a series of regularly spaced tones ranging from black to white through intermediate shades of gray; also : an image composed solely of gray scale tones

—

grayscale

play \ˈgrā-ˌskāl\ adjective

Recent Examples of gray scale from the Web

The wearer sits calmly, her face and body rendered in gray scale — without any color.

— rhonda garelick, The Cut, "Michelle Obama’s Mount Rushmore Moment," 14 Feb. 2018
Her images play black and white against color in different ways, most obviously in the skin tones, which are painted on the gray scale.

— roberta smith, New York Times, "Why the Obamas’ Portrait Choices Matter," 16 Oct. 2017
David Ferri’s sterile lighting casts a glow on the chalky floor, which has white lines drawn here and there that travel up the dancers legs and torsos in random stripes across their gray scale costumes.

— lauren warnecke, chicagotribune.com, "Shen Wei Dance Arts radically restrained in Chicago debut," 25 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gray scale.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of gray scale

circa 1939

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