noun Uncommon

pastel

PASTL

Pastel (noun) means a pale, soft shade of colour. Example: “The nursery was painted in soft pastel colours.”

noun

A pale, soft shade of colour.

"The nursery was painted in soft pastel colours."

A crayon made of powdered pigment bound with a gum or resin, or a drawing made using it.

"She sketched the landscape using pastels."

How to use pastel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA soft, pale colour, or the chalky crayon medium used by artists.

Common pairings

pastel shades pastel drawing soft pastels

Word forms

pastels plural, pastels plural, pasteles plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The nursery was painted in soft _____ colours.

Etymology

Borrowed from French pastel, from Italian pastello, ultimately from Latin pasta, "paste" — describing the crayon's paste-like texture.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for pastel

Castel

See all rhymes for pastel →

Frequently asked questions

What does “pastel” mean?

The word “pastel” means a pale, soft shade of colour. In plain terms, a soft, pale colour, or the chalky crayon medium used by artists.

How do you pronounce “pastel”?

“Pastel” is pronounced PASTL (/pæsˈtɛl/ in IPA).

How do you use “pastel” in a sentence?

Here is “pastel” used in a sentence: “The nursery was painted in soft pastel colours.”

What part of speech is “pastel”?

“Pastel” is a noun.

Where does the word “pastel” come from?

The word “pastel” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French pastel, from Italian pastello, ultimately from Latin pasta, "paste" — describing the crayon's paste-like texture.

Is “pastel” a common word?

“Pastel” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “pastel” have?

“Pastel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a pale, soft shade of colour.