adj · noun · verb · 42 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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stāl
/steɪl/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪl
CMU ARPABET:S T EY1 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
No longer fresh, in reference to food, urine, straw, wounds, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Near-synonyms: gone bad, spoiled; see also Thesaurus:rotten
Not new or recent; having been in place or in effect for some time.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: antediluvian, eldern, venerable, ancient, aged, age-old, auld, cobwebbed, cobwebby, decrepit, eld, gamol, gray, hoary, moss-grown, old, old as the hills, old as the Pyramids, olden, older than dirt, older than the hills, older than the Pyramids, wintry
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Unreasonably long in coming, in reference to claims and actions.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
Examples
a stale affidavit
a stale demand
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Worn out, particularly due to age or over-exertion, in reference to athletes and animals in competition.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
The bug was found to be caused by stale data in the cache.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
adj
Meaning 8
No longer nubile or suitable for marriage; past one's prime.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
Examples
Near-synonyms: over the hill; see also Thesaurus:elderly
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: matronly, past it, over the hill, elder, elderly, geriatric, gerontologic, gerontological, long in the tooth, matured, of a certain age, old as Methuselah, on in years, senior, superannuated, ivy-covered, preserved, wintry
Antonyms: none provided
9
adj
Meaning 9
Clear, free of dregs and lees; old and strong.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
adj
Meaning 10
Fallow, in reference to land.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
Topics: agriculture, business, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
adj
Meaning 11
At a standstill; stalemated.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, obsolete
Topics: board-games, chess, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
noun
Meaning 12
Something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: colloquial
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
noun
Meaning 13
A long, thin handle (of rakes, axes, etc.)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
noun
Meaning 14
One of the posts or uprights of a ladder.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dialectal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
noun
Meaning 15
One of the rungs on a ladder.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
noun
Meaning 16
The stem of a plant.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
noun
Meaning 17
The shaft of an arrow, spear, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
18
noun
Meaning 18
A fixed position, particularly a soldier's in a battle-line.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
Topics: government, military, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
19
noun
Meaning 19
A stalemate; a stalemated game.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncommon
Topics: board-games, chess, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
20
noun
Meaning 20
An ambush.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
Topics: government, military, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
21
noun
Meaning 21
A band of armed men or hunters.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
22
noun
Meaning 22
The main force of an army.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Scotland, obsolete
Topics: government, military, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
23
noun
Meaning 23
Urine, especially used of horses and cattle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, uncountable
Qualifier: livestock
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
24
noun
Meaning 24
A live bird to lure birds of prey or others of its kind into a trap.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
Topics: falconry, hobbies, hunting, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
25
noun
Meaning 25
Any lure, particularly in reference to people used as live bait.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
26
noun
Meaning 26
An accomplice of a thief or criminal acting as bait.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
Qualifier: crime
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
27
noun
Meaning 27
a partner whose beloved abandons or torments him in favor of another.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
28
noun
Meaning 28
A patsy, a pawn, someone used under some false pretext to forward another's (usu. sinister) designs; a stalking horse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
29
noun
Meaning 29
A prostitute of the lowest sort; any wanton woman.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
Qualifier: crime
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
30
noun
Meaning 30
Any decoy, either stuffed or manufactured.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
Topics: hobbies, hunting, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
31
verb
Meaning 31
To make stale; to cause to go out of fashion or currency; to diminish the novelty or interest of, particularly by excessive exposure or consumption.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
32
verb
Meaning 32
To become stale; to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
33
verb
Meaning 33
To become stale; to grow unpleasant from age.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
34
verb
Meaning 34
To make stale; to age in order to clear and strengthen (a drink, especially beer).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
35
verb
Meaning 35
To make a ladder by joining rungs ("stales") between the posts.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
36
verb
Meaning 36
To stalemate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive, uncommon
Topics: board-games, chess, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
37
verb
Meaning 37
To be stalemated.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
Topics: board-games, chess, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
38
verb
Meaning 38
To urinate, especially used of horses and cattle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
Qualifier: livestock
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
39
verb
Meaning 39
To serve as a decoy, to lure.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, rare, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
40
adjective
Meaning 40
lacking freshness, palatability, or showing deterioration from age
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
stale bread
the beer was stale
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: fresh
41
adjective satellite
Meaning 41
lacking originality or spontaneity; no longer new
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
moth-eaten theories about race
stale news
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: cold, dusty, moth-eaten
Antonyms: none provided
42
verb
Meaning 42
urinate, of cattle and horses
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: make, urinate, piddle, puddle, micturate, piss, pee, pee-pee, make water, relieve oneself, take a leak, spend a penny, wee, wee-wee, pass water
History
Etymology
From Middle English stale, from Old French estal (“fixed position, place”), but probably originally from Proto-Germanic *stāną (“to stand”): compare West Flemish stel in the same sense for ‘beer’ and ‘urine’.
From Middle English stale, from Old French estal (“place, something placed”) (compare French étal), from Frankish stal, from Proto-Germanic *stallaz, earlier *staþlaz. Related to stall and stand.
From Middle English stale, from Old English stalu, from Proto-Germanic *stal-; compare English stell from this root. The development was paralleled by the ablaut which became English steal, from Middle English stele, from Old English stela, from Proto-Germanic *stel-. Both are from the same Proto-Indo-European root *stel-, *stol- (“to place, establish”), whence also Ancient Greek στελεός (steleós, “handle”). See also English stele.
Noun from Middle English stale, from Anglo-Norman estal (“urine”), from Middle Dutch stal (“urine”). Cognate with Middle Low German stal (“horse urine; bowel movement”). Verb from Middle English stalen, from Old French estaler (“urinate”), related to Middle High German stallen (“to piss”).
From Middle English stale (“bird used as a decoy”), probably from uncommon Anglo-Norman estale (“pigeon used to lure hawks”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic, probably *standaną (“to stand”). Compare Old English stælhran (“decoy reindeer”) and Northumbrian stællo (“catching fish”).
Across languages
Translations
148 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Albanian:
bajat
— having lost its freshness
Azerbaijani:
bayat
— having lost its freshness
Bulgarian:
баят
(bajat)
— having lost its freshness
Catalan:
passat
— having lost its freshness
Catalan:
ranci
— having lost its freshness
Catalan:
florit
— having lost its freshness
Chinese Mandarin:
陳腐 /陈腐
(chénfǔ)
— having lost its freshness
Dutch:
oud
— having lost its freshness
Dutch:
oudbakken
— having lost its freshness
Dutch:
vervallen
— having lost its freshness
Dutch:
brak
— having lost its freshness
Dutch:
muf
— having lost its freshness
Dutch:
verschaald
— having lost its freshness
Esperanto:
malfreŝa
— having lost its freshness
Finnish:
väljähtänyt
— having lost its freshness
Finnish:
ummehtunut
— having lost its freshness
Finnish:
vanhentunut
— having lost its freshness
French:
rassis
— having lost its freshness
French:
avarié
— having lost its freshness
Galician:
reseso
— having lost its freshness
Galician:
resésego
— having lost its freshness
Galician:
falmaguento
— having lost its freshness
Galician:
manido
— having lost its freshness
Galician:
pasado
— having lost its freshness
Galician:
choco
— having lost its freshness
German:
abgestanden
— having lost its freshness
German:
schal
— having lost its freshness
German:
altbacken
— having lost its freshness
German:
fade
— having lost its freshness
Greek:
μπαγιάτικος
(bagiátikos)
— having lost its freshness
Greek:
στάσιμος
(stásimos)
— having lost its freshness
Ancient Greek:
ἕωλος
(héōlos)
— having lost its freshness
Hungarian:
állott
— having lost its freshness
Hungarian:
áporodott
— having lost its freshness
Hungarian:
poshadt
— having lost its freshness
Icelandic:
staðinn
— having lost its freshness
Indonesian:
basi
— having lost its freshness
Italian:
raffermo
— having lost its freshness
Italian:
ammuffito
— having lost its freshness
Italian:
avariato
— having lost its freshness
Italian:
rancido
— having lost its freshness
Japanese:
古い
(furui)
— having lost its freshness
Khmer:
ចាស់
(cah)
— having lost its freshness
Ladino:
bayat
— having lost its freshness
Malay:
basi
— having lost its freshness
Norman:
raccourchi
— having lost its freshness
Norman:
mouaîsi
— having lost its freshness
Old English:
ealdbacen
— having lost its freshness
Persian:
بیات
(bayât)
— having lost its freshness
Polish:
czerstwy
— having lost its freshness
Portuguese:
parado
— having lost its freshness
Portuguese:
estagnado
— having lost its freshness
Portuguese:
rançoso
— having lost its freshness
Portuguese:
seco
— having lost its freshness
Portuguese:
velho
— having lost its freshness
Russian:
несве́жий
(nesvéžij)
— having lost its freshness
Russian:
чёрствый
(čórstvyj)
— having lost its freshness
Russian:
за́тхлый
(zátxlyj)
— having lost its freshness
Spanish:
revenido
— having lost its freshness
Spanish:
pasado
— having lost its freshness
Spanish:
rancio
— having lost its freshness
Spanish:
viciado
— having lost its freshness
Spanish:
alaste
— having lost its freshness
Spanish:
correoso
— having lost its freshness
Spanish:
acorchado
— having lost its freshness
Spanish:
melcochudo
— having lost its freshness
Spanish:
melcochoso
— having lost its freshness
Spanish:
(para) nada fresco/hodierno
— having lost its freshness
Swedish:
avslagen
— having lost its freshness
Swedish:
däven
— having lost its freshness
Tày:
bốt
— having lost its freshness
Tày:
mên bốt
— having lost its freshness
Tày:
bút
— having lost its freshness
Telugu:
పాచిన
(pācina)
— having lost its freshness
Telugu:
వాడిన
(vāḍina)
— having lost its freshness
Telugu:
వడలిన
(vaḍalina)
— having lost its freshness
Turkish:
bayat
— having lost its freshness
Vietnamese:
thiu
— having lost its freshness
Vietnamese:
ôi
— having lost its freshness
Walloon:
passé
— having lost its freshness
Walloon:
avancî
— having lost its freshness
Walloon:
suri
— having lost its freshness
Albanian:
bajat
— no longer new or interesting
Bulgarian:
банален
(banalen)
— no longer new or interesting
Catalan:
gastat
— no longer new or interesting
Catalan:
passat
— no longer new or interesting
Dutch:
ouderwets
— no longer new or interesting
Finnish:
väljähtänyt
— no longer new or interesting
Finnish:
tympeä
— no longer new or interesting
Finnish:
kulunut
— no longer new or interesting
French:
vieilli
— no longer new or interesting
French:
périmé
— no longer new or interesting
French:
caduc
— no longer new or interesting
French:
suranné
— no longer new or interesting
French:
démodé
— no longer new or interesting
German:
veraltet
— no longer new or interesting
German:
ausgelutscht
— no longer new or interesting
German:
abgestanden
— no longer new or interesting
German:
(n.) olle Kamellen
— no longer new or interesting
German:
banal
— no longer new or interesting
German:
von vorgestern
— no longer new or interesting
Greek:
ξεπερασμένος
(xeperasménos)
— no longer new or interesting
Greek:
έωλος
(éolos)
— no longer new or interesting
Hungarian:
elcsépelt
— no longer new or interesting
Hungarian:
ósdi
— no longer new or interesting
Italian:
obsoleto
— no longer new or interesting
Italian:
sorpassato
— no longer new or interesting
Italian:
vecchio
— no longer new or interesting
Italian:
superato
— no longer new or interesting
Japanese:
陳腐な
(chinpu-na)
— no longer new or interesting
Portuguese:
estagnado
— no longer new or interesting
Russian:
изби́тый
(izbítyj)
— no longer new or interesting
Russian:
бана́льный
(banálʹnyj)
— no longer new or interesting
Russian:
борода́тый
(borodátyj)
— no longer new or interesting
Spanish:
manido
— no longer new or interesting
Spanish:
anquilosado
— no longer new or interesting
Spanish:
trillado
— no longer new or interesting
Spanish:
manoseado
— no longer new or interesting
Spanish:
periclitado
— no longer new or interesting
Swedish:
passé
— no longer new or interesting
Turkish:
bayat
— no longer new or interesting
Walloon:
aviyi
— no longer new or interesting
Walloon:
forpassé
— no longer new or interesting
Walloon:
foû môde
— no longer new or interesting
German:
alter Kanten
— something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
Spanish:
coscurro
— something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
Spanish:
mendrugo
— something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
Spanish:
sequete
— something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
Spanish:
rosigón
— something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
Spanish:
zatico
— something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
Spanish:
chusco
— something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
Finnish:
varsi
— long, thin handle
Finnish:
varsi
— archery: shaft of an arrow
Ottoman Turkish:
كوندر
(günder, gönder)
— archery: shaft of an arrow
Ottoman Turkish:
اوق
(ok)
— archery: shaft of an arrow
Ottoman Turkish:
قاشان
(kaşan)
— urine of horses
Finnish:
kyllästyttää
— to diminish the interest of by excessive exposure or consumption
German:
Interesse verlieren an
— to diminish the interest of by excessive exposure or consumption
Portuguese:
saturar
— to diminish the interest of by excessive exposure or consumption
Finnish:
kyllästyä
— to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption
German:
über haben
— to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption
German:
überkonsumieren
— to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption
Kyrgyz:
катуу
(katuu)
— to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption
Portuguese:
enjoar
— to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption
Russian:
черстветь
(čerstvetʹ)
— to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption
Finnish:
mennä pilalle
— of alcohol: to grow unpleasant from age
German:
umkippen
— of alcohol: to grow unpleasant from age
German:
allmählich abscheulich schmecken
— of alcohol: to grow unpleasant from age