noun
ale
ayl
noun
1
A type of beer, traditionally brewed without hops and fermented at warmer temperatures than lager.
"He ordered a pint of pale ale at the pub."
"The brewery specializes in dark, rich ales."
How to Use Ale
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA style of beer, typically fuller-bodied than lager and fermented warmer and faster.
UK vs US
In the UK, "ale" often refers specifically to traditional cask-conditioned real ale; in the US it more broadly covers any top-fermented beer style, including IPAs.
Common pairings
pale ale
ginger ale
brown ale
Word Forms
ales plural
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He ordered a pint of pale _____ at the pub.
Etymology
From Old English ealu, going back to a Proto-Germanic word for beer, distantly related to words for "bitter."