/ peɪl; NAmE / adjective , verb , noun
■ adjective ( paler , pal·est )
1.
( of a person, their face, etc. ) having skin that is almost white; having skin that is whiter than usual because of illness, a strong emotion, etc. :
a pale complexion
pale with fear
to go / turn pale
You look pale. Are you OK?
The ordeal left her looking pale and drawn .
2.
light in colour; containing a lot of white :
pale blue eyes
a paler shade of green
a pale sky
OPP dark , deep
3.
( of light ) not strong or bright :
the cold pale light of dawn
—see also pallid , pallor
► pale·ly / ˈpeɪlli; NAmE / adverb :
Mark stared palely (= with a pale face) at his plate.
► pale·ness noun [ U ]
■ verb
[ v ] ~ (at sth) to become paler than usual :
She (= her face) paled visibly at the sight of the police car.
The blue of the sky paled to a light grey.
•
IDIOMS
- pale beside / next to sth | pale in / by comparison (with / to sth) | pale into insignificance
■ noun
•
IDIOMS
- beyond the pale
••
WORD ORIGIN
adjective and verb Middle English : from Old French pale , from Latin pallidus ; the verb is from Old French palir .
noun Middle English : from Old French pal , from Latin palus stake.