adj · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/ˈpælpəbəl/
US:păl'pə-bəl
US:/ˈpælpəbəl/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:P AE1 L P AH0 B AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Capable of being touched, felt or handled; touchable, tangible.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tangible, touchable, palpable, tactile
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Obvious or easily perceived; noticeable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: manifest, noticeable, patent
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
That can be detected by palpation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective
Meaning 4
capable of being perceived; especially capable of being handled or touched or felt
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a barely palpable dust
felt sudden anger in a palpable wave
the air was warm and close--palpable as cotton
a palpable lie
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tangible
Antonyms: impalpable
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
can be felt by palpation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a palpable tumor
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle French palpable and its source, Latin palpābilis, which is from palpō (“to touch softly”) + -bilis.
Across languages
Translations
54 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
осезаем
(osezaem)
— capable of being touched
Bulgarian:
обозрим
(obozrim)
— capable of being touched
Catalan:
palpable
— capable of being touched
Czech:
hmatatelný
— capable of being touched
Dutch:
tastbaar
— capable of being touched
Finnish:
käsinkosketeltava
— capable of being touched
Finnish:
kouriintuntuva
— capable of being touched
French:
palpable
— capable of being touched
German:
greifbar
— capable of being touched
Greek:
απτός
(aptós)
— capable of being touched
Greek:
αισθητός
(aisthitós)
— capable of being touched
Greek:
ψηλαφητός
(psilafitós)
— capable of being touched
Hungarian:
tapintható
— capable of being touched
Italian:
palpabile
— capable of being touched
Latin:
tactilis
— capable of being touched
Latin:
palpābilis
— capable of being touched
Macedonian:
о́пиплив
(ópipliv)
— capable of being touched
Marathi:
स्पर्शज्ञेय
(sparśajñey)
— capable of being touched
Marathi:
स्पर्शनीय
(sparśanīy)
— capable of being touched
Plautdietsch:
feelboa
— capable of being touched
Portuguese:
palpável
— capable of being touched
Russian:
осяза́емый
(osjazájemyj)
— capable of being touched
Russian:
ощути́мый
(oščutímyj)
— capable of being touched
Spanish:
palpable
— capable of being touched
Bulgarian:
очевиден
(očeviden)
— obvious
Bulgarian:
ясен
(jasen)
— obvious
Bulgarian:
явен
(javen)
— obvious
Catalan:
palpable
— obvious
Czech:
zřejmý
— obvious
Dutch:
te snijden
— obvious
Finnish:
selvä
— obvious
Finnish:
kouriintuntuva
— obvious
Finnish:
käsinkosketeltava
— obvious
French:
palpable
— obvious
Greek:
προφανής
(profanís)
— obvious
Hungarian:
érzékelhető
— obvious
Italian:
evidente
— obvious
Macedonian:
очи́гледен
(očígleden)
— obvious
Macedonian:
ја́сен
(jásen)
— obvious
Macedonian:
оче́виден
(očéviden)
— obvious
Marathi:
धडधडीत
(dhaḍadhḍīt)
— obvious
Polish:
namacalny
— obvious
Portuguese:
palpável
— obvious
Russian:
очеви́дный
(očevídnyj)
— obvious
Russian:
я́вный
(jávnyj)
— obvious
Russian:
я́сный
(jásnyj)
— obvious
Spanish:
palpable
— obvious
Czech:
hmatný
— that can be detected by palpation
Dutch:
palpeerbaar
— that can be detected by palpation
Finnish:
tunnustelemalla havaittava
— that can be detected by palpation
Finnish:
tunnusteltava
— that can be detected by palpation
Greek:
ψηλαφητός
(psilafitós)
— that can be detected by palpation
Portuguese:
palpável
— that can be detected by palpation
Russian:
прощу́пываемый
(proščúpyvajemyj)
— that can be detected by palpation