grainy

[/ˈɡreɪni/]
adjective
granuloso
1. containing or resembling grains; having a texture composed of small particles or granules
The sand felt grainy between my fingers.
A areia se sentia granulosa entre meus dedos.
2. (photography/video) having a visible grain or speckled appearance due to poor image quality or high ISO settings
The photo was too grainy because it was taken in low light.
A foto ficou muito granulosa porque foi tirada com pouca luz.
3. having a coarse or rough surface texture
The wood had a grainy surface that needed sanding.
A madeira tinha uma superfície granulosa que precisava ser lixada.
4. lacking smoothness or clarity
The grainy quality of the old film made it difficult to watch.
A qualidade granulosa do filme antigo dificultava assisti-lo.
In both Brazilian and American English contexts, 'grainy' is commonly used to describe low-quality digital images, a phenomenon that became prevalent with the rise of smartphones and social media. The word has become synonymous with authenticity in casual photography, where grainy images sometimes convey a nostalgic or artistic quality rather than being purely negative.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
granulartexturedcoarsespeckledgrittyrough
Antonyms / Antônimos
smoothfineclearpolishedsleek

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
granuloso
most common translation across Brazil
Brazil (Photography)
pixelado
used in digital photography contexts to describe pixelated or grainy images
Brazil (Texture)
áspero
used to describe rough or coarse textures
Portugal
granuloso
same as Brazilian Portuguese; also 'grão' used in some contexts

Related Words

graingranuletextureparticlegritroughness

Related Idioms & Phrases

grainy picture (unclear or incomplete understanding)
the grainy truth (rough or unrefined version of the truth)
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