PASTEL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pastel mean? 

• PASTEL (noun)
  The noun PASTEL has 1 sense:

1. any of various pale or light colors

  Familiarity information: PASTEL used as a noun is very rare.

• PASTEL (adjective)
  The adjective PASTEL has 2 senses:

1. lacking in body or vigor

2. delicate and pale in color

  Familiarity information: PASTEL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PASTEL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of various pale or light colors

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("pastel" is a kind of...):

chromatic color; chromatic colour; spectral color; spectral colour (a color that has hue)

Derivation:

pastel (delicate and pale in color)

• PASTEL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lacking in body or vigor

Context example:

faded pastel charms of the naive music

Similar:

delicate (exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Delicate and pale in color

Context example:

pastel pink

Similar:

light; light-colored ((used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent)

Derivation:

pastel (any of various pale or light colors)