steel grey

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   A dark, slightly blue-tinged grey, like the color of polished steel.

   Grammar: As a color name it has no article: painted in steel grey.

   Patterns

   • painted in steel grey
   • a shade of steel grey

   They painted the front door in steel grey.

   Steel grey looks smart against white walls.

   The car came in black, white or steel grey.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Having a dark, cool grey color with a faint bluish tint.

   Grammar: Often comes before a noun: a steel grey sky.

   Patterns

   • steel grey sky
   • steel grey suit

   He wore a steel grey suit to the interview.

   The sea turned steel grey as the storm approached.

   She chose steel grey curtains for the study.

Common combinations

steel grey suit

He looked sharp in a steel grey suit.

steel grey sky

A steel grey sky hung over the harbor.

steel grey eyes

Her steel grey eyes never left the map.

steel grey paint

We chose steel grey paint for the shutters.

steel grey finish

The kitchen has a steel grey finish.

Synonyms and how they differ

slate grey

Slate grey is a little darker and flatter, while steel grey is slightly bluer and metallic.

gunmetal

Gunmetal is darker and more metallic than steel grey.

charcoal

Charcoal is closer to black and warmer than steel grey.

silver

Silver is lighter and shinier than steel grey.

Opposites

Word family

steel noun

the strong metal that gives the color its name

grey adjective

the color between black and white

greyish adjective

somewhat grey

Commonly confused: steel grey or gunmetal?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “steel grey”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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