ENGLISH
REFERENCE

grainy

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɡɹeɪni// UK //ɡɹˈeɪni// grainy

adj. having a rough, uneven texture that you can see or feel. You use this to describe things like old photos, sand, or a rough surface.

adj. having a rough, uneven, or granular texture that is visible to the eye or palpable to the touch. Often used to describe the visual quality of low-resolution images or the tactile quality of certain materials.


SIMPLE

The old photo has a grainy texture.

CONTEXTUAL

The screen on my phone looks grainy when I watch videos in bright sunlight.

COMPLEX

The artist used a grainy texture to represent the rough, weathered stone of the ancient ruins, adding a sense of history and decay to the painting.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English greyny, equivalent to grain + -y. Piecewise doublet of corny.

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