Meaning & Definition of word "Stale"
to
Stale
/steɪl/
noun:
- 1. Something that is stale; specifically, stale food.
- Example: The restaurant had to throw away the stale that remained from last week's orders.
adjective:
- 1. No longer fresh and pleasant to eat; hard, musty, or dry.
- Example: The bread was stale after sitting out for a week.
- 2. Having lost novelty or originality; trite or worn-out.
- Example: The comedian's jokes felt stale and failed to amuse the audience.
- 3. No longer in use; outdated.
- Example: His opinions on technology seem stale and out of touch with current trends.
Etymology
Middle English 'stal', from Old English 'stæle', meaning 'stale bread'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
stale joke:
A joke that has been told many times and is no longer funny.
stale story:
A narrative that lacks novelty or freshness.
stale air:
Air that is not fresh, often due to lack of circulation.
Related Words
fresh:
Recently made or obtained; not stale.
new:
Recent; not old or stale.
ancient:
Very old; not fresh.
Slang Meanings of stale
Meaning: Boring or unoriginal, often in reference to ideas or content.
Example Sentence: The presentation was so stale that half the audience fell asleep.
Meaning: Referring to a situation that has become tedious or repetitive.
Example Sentence: After a few months, their relationship felt stale.