How do we know what gray means? Is gray the drab color that conceals tiny forest birds, scattering at our approach? Is gray the cool, dispassionate neutral of industrial décor? Is gray the sophistication of a deep charcoal suit? Neither stark white nor imposing black, gray is the ultimate negotiator.

Meaning Of Gray: Explained

Morally ambiguous and impartial, gray is the color of complexity–everything that falls in between absolutes. Gray can be easily overlooked, but it’s quite a fascinating color if you look a little deeper.

Physical Effects

They physical effects of gray are less pronounced than other colors, but it tends to have a dampening effect–both on other colors and on our moods. It’s calm and dispassionate, but too much gray, particularly if it’s a dark gray–can be depressing. Gray is the perfect neutral, as it can moderate brighter hues and pull a color scheme together.

Symbolism And Meaning Of Gray

Gray is the color of intellect and of compromise. It’s a diplomatic color, negotiating all the distance between black and white. We typically consider gray to be conservative, elegant, and cool, though it can be a bit mysterious.

Positive Associations

We think of gray as solemn and serious, the color of business suits and sophistication. It’s not a color of extremes, but rather of middle ground, of reasonable agreement. We also associate gray with wisdom–the sort that’s acquired with age and goes hand-in-hand with gray hair.

Negative Associations

Gray can be perceived as emotionally distant or disconnected, and it’s associated with morally questionable matters as well. It’s neither one thing nor the other–as in "gray area," and we can think of it as being indecisive. And though we associate gray with wisdom, the millions of dollars spent on coloring gray hair each year indicates we don’t actually love gray when it comes to hair.

Color Morsels

The typical gestation period for female gray whales is 13.5 months, and when babies are born they’re about 12-14 feet long. Baby gray whales drink up to80 gallons of milk per day. An adult gray whale’s fluke (or tail) can span up to ten feet, and adult gray whales can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes before they have to surface for air.

Gray foxes live in the deserts of the American southwest. They’re the only member of the dog family that’s able to climb trees. The gray fox is an omnivore, typically dining on rabbits, mice, voles, birds, and insects.

The Crayola Crayon called "gray" was introduced in 1934. Other shades of gray are: Gray blue, Dolphin gray, Timberwolf, Manatee, and Cadet blue. In1990, Crayola retired the first of its colors, and Blue Gray was discontinued, along with 7 other colors.

Gray Words, Phrases And Idioms

Examples of how the meaning of gray colors our language:

Gray market: the business of buying or selling items that are priced below what has been regulated

Gray mood: an unhappy mood

Gray area: caught between two differing views

Quotes About Color Gray

Gray As A Signature Color

A signature color is different than a favorite color although for some people they many be one and the same. It is all in how you express yourself with a color and how consistently you wear it or surround yourself with the color that makes it your signature shade.

• Albert Einstein - It has been reported that the famous physicist wore only grey suits because he didn’t want to waste brainpower on choosing an outfit each morning.
• Mark Zuckerberg - Facebook's Chief Executive always wears a gray t-shirt.
• President Barack Obama - paired down his White House wardrobe to only gray and blue suits.
• Pee Wee Herman - the fictional character portrayed by Paul Reubens always wore a gray suit and red bowtie.

Companies & Brands Identified by Gray

Cities With Color Names: Gray Or Grey

Songs With Gray or Silver in the Title

• A Touch of Gray - the Grateful Dead
  
• Grey Ghost - the Henry Paul Band
• Grey Skies - The Verve
  
• Grey Street - the Dave Matthews Band
• Touch of Grey - Grateful Dead
• Blue, Red, and Grey - the Who
• Silver Lady - David Soul
• Girls Not Grey - AFI

The Color Gray In The Garden

Discover More About the Meaning of Color

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