Word
grainy
US/ˈɡɹeɪni/
UK/ɡɹˈeɪni/
Definition
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.
Examples
“The old photo has a grainy texture.”
“The screen on my phone looks grainy when I watch videos in bright sunlight.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
Real-World Examples
“He also took them to see Raging Bull, Thompson adds, which was “an eye-opener: black and white, grainy, gritty, real .” Etymology
From Middle English greyny, equivalent to grain + -y. Piecewise doublet of corny.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/grainy