What does a hue become when gray is added?

When gray is added to a hue, the resulting color is referred to as a tone. The addition of gray modifies the original hue, resulting in a softer, more muted version of that color, which is known as a tone. This blending reduces the overall chroma or purity of the original hue without complicating the balance of light and dark that would occur with adding black or white, thus emphasizing the tonal quality.

In contrast, a shade is created when black is added to a hue, darkening it overall. Adding white to a hue produces a tint, which lightens the color. Intensity refers to the brightness or vividness of a color and is altered by adding gray, but it is not a term used to describe the resultant color itself. Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color but does not encompass the introduction of gray in the same manner as tone does. Thus, tone is the most accurate term for the outcome of adding gray to a hue.