n.
Pronunciation: pas- ' tel
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Italian pastello, from Late Latin pastellus woad, from diminutive of pasta
Date: 1662
1 : a paste made of powdered pigment ranging from pale to deep colors and used for making crayons also : a crayon made of such paste
2 a : a drawing in pastel b : the process or art of drawing with pastels
3 : a light literary sketch
4 : any of various pale or light colors