First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1stale
adjective \ˈstāl\
of food : no longer good or appealing : no longer fresh
: not clean, clear, or pure : having an unpleasant taste or smell
: not interesting or new : boring or unoriginal
stal·erstal·est
Full Definition of STALE
1
: tasteless or unpalatable from age <stale bread>
2
: tedious from familiarity <a stale routine>
3
: impaired in legal force or effect by reason of being allowed to rest without timely use, action, or demand <a stale affidavit> <a stale debt>
4
: impaired in vigor or effectiveness
— stale·ly \ˈstāl-lē\ adverb
— stale·ness noun
See stale defined for English-language learners
See stale defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of STALE
Middle English, settled, clear (of ale), not fresh, from Anglo-French estale, probably from Middle Dutch stel old (of beer)
Related to STALE
- Synonyms
- banal, cliché (also cliche), clichéd, cobwebby, commonplace, hack, hackney, hackneyed, moth-eaten, musty, obligatory, shopworn, stereotyped, threadbare, timeworn, tired, trite, well-worn
Rhymes with STALE
2stale
verb
staledstal·ing
Definition of STALE
transitive verb
1
: to make stale
2
archaic : to make common : cheapen
intransitive verb
: to become stale
First Known Use of STALE
1599
3stale
intransitive verb
staledstal·ing
Definition of STALE
: urinate —used chiefly of camels and horses
Origin of STALE
Middle English; akin to Middle Low German stallen to urinate, stal urine of horses
First Known Use: 15th century
4stale
noun
Definition of STALE
: urine of a domestic animal (as a horse)
First Known Use of STALE
1548
STALE Defined for Kids
stale
adjective \ˈstāl\
stal·erstal·est
Definition of STALE for Kids
1
: having lost a good taste or quality through age <stale bread>
2
: used or heard so often as to be dull <stale jokes>
3
: not so strong, energetic, or effective as before <He felt stale in his job.>
Learn More About STALE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: stalemate (noun)Previous Word in the Dictionary: stalagmometryAll Words Near: stale
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up stale? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).