gray scale
noun
: 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
Examples of gray scale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And, while both can be solid gray or black, wolves land on the gray scale more frequently.
—
Paul Richards, Field & Stream, 14 Sep. 2023
Aurora James of Brother Vellies made a gray scale version of her brand’s trademark slipper mules, in calf hair.
—Caitie Kelly Caitie Kelly Kurt Soller Ellie Pithers Jameson Montgomery, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2022
The earthy warmth of Tweed evokes summer days spent in the Cotswolds, while Tuxedo’s gray scale calls to mind innumerable red-carpet photo calls.
—Vogue, 13 Sep. 2019
The Holocaust, or the Gulag, are such monstrous events that the very idea of rendering them in any sort of gray scale seems monstrous, too.
—Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 21 June 2019
What the ad says: The one-minute ad opens in gray scale images and paints a dismal portrait of Maryland before Hogan was elected.
—Erin Cox, baltimoresun.com, 30 May 2018
Water and nourishment enter through the gray scales on their leaves, so these plants don’t need soil to survive.
—Karen Dardick, sandiegouniontribune.com, 17 May 2018
The wearer sits calmly, her face and body rendered in gray scale — without any color.
—Rhonda Garelick, The Cut, 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, 16 Oct. 2017
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Paul Richards, Field & Stream, 14 Sep. 2023
Aurora James of Brother Vellies made a gray scale version of her brand’s trademark slipper mules, in calf hair.
—Caitie Kelly Caitie Kelly Kurt Soller Ellie Pithers Jameson Montgomery, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2022
The earthy warmth of Tweed evokes summer days spent in the Cotswolds, while Tuxedo’s gray scale calls to mind innumerable red-carpet photo calls.
—Vogue, 13 Sep. 2019
The Holocaust, or the Gulag, are such monstrous events that the very idea of rendering them in any sort of gray scale seems monstrous, too.
—Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 21 June 2019
What the ad says: The one-minute ad opens in gray scale images and paints a dismal portrait of Maryland before Hogan was elected.
—Erin Cox, baltimoresun.com, 30 May 2018
Water and nourishment enter through the gray scales on their leaves, so these plants don’t need soil to survive.
—Karen Dardick, sandiegouniontribune.com, 17 May 2018
The wearer sits calmly, her face and body rendered in gray scale — without any color.
—Rhonda Garelick, The Cut, 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, 16 Oct. 2017
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gray scale.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1939, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to gray scale
Dictionary Entries Near gray scale
Cite this Entry
“Gray scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gray%20scale. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.
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