/ ˈpæstl; NAmE pæˈstel/ noun
1.
[ U ] soft coloured chalk , used for drawing pictures :
drawings in pastel
2.
pastels [ pl. ] small sticks of chalk :
a box of pastels
3.
[ C ] a picture drawn with pastels
4.
[ C ] a pale delicate colour :
The whole house was painted in soft pastels.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: via French from Italian pastello , diminutive of pasta paste.