stale🔊

No longer fresh, in reference to food, urine, straw, wounds, etc. +

No longer fresh, new, or interesting, in reference to ideas and immaterial things; clichéd, hackneyed, dated. +

(in general) Not new or recent; having been in place or in effect for some time. +

(law) Unreasonably long in coming, in reference to claims and actions.

Worn out, particularly due to age or over-exertion, in reference to athletes and animals in competition. +

(finance) Out of date, unpaid for an unreasonable amount of time, particularly in reference to checks.

(computing) Of data: out of date; not synchronized with the newest copy.

(of people) No longer nubile or suitable for marriage; past one's prime. +

(of alcohol) Clear, free of dregs and lees; old and strong.

(obsolete) Fallow, in reference to land.

(colloquial) Something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh.

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.

To become stale; to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption.

(of alcohol) To become stale; to grow unpleasant from age.

(of alcohol) To make stale; to age in order to clear and strengthen (a drink, especially beer).

A long, thin handle (of rakes, axes, etc.)

(dialectal) One of the posts or uprights of a ladder.

One of the rungs on a ladder.

(obsolete) The stem of a plant.

(shaft) The shaft of an arrow, spear, etc.

(obsolete) To make a ladder by joining rungs ("stales") between the posts.

(obsolete) A fixed position, particularly a soldier's in a battle-line.

(uncommon) A stalemate; a stalemated game.

(obsolete) An ambush.

(obsolete) A band of armed men or hunters.

(obsolete) The main force of an army.

(obsolete) At a standstill; stalemated.

To stalemate.

To be stalemated.

(obsolete) Urine, especially used of horses and cattle.

To urinate, especially used of horses and cattle.

(obsolete) A live bird to lure birds of prey or others of its kind into a trap.

(obsolete) Any lure, particularly in reference to people used as live bait.

(obsolete) An accomplice of a thief or criminal acting as bait.

(obsolete) a partner whose beloved abandons or torments him in favor of another.

(obsolete) A patsy, a pawn, someone used under some false pretext to forward another's (usu. sinister) designs; a stalking horse.

(obsolete) A prostitute of the lowest sort; any wanton woman.

(obsolete) Any decoy, either stuffed or manufactured.

To serve as a decoy, to lure.