pale

• Décrit une couleur claire ou peu intense ; s'emploie aussi pour un visage plus pâle que d'habitude, souvent à cause d'une maladie ou d'un choc.

Describes a color that is light or lacking in intensity; also used to describe a person's complexion when it is lighter than usual, often due to illness or shock.

1. Light in colorA2formal

   Having a light or whitish color, often lacking intensity.

   pâle (couleur claire)

   • She wore a pale blue dress to the party.
   • The walls were painted a pale yellow.
   • The sky was a pale gray before the storm.

   Synonymesashencolorlessfadedfairlightlight-coloredpastywanwhitish

   Antonymesbrightdarkdeeprichvivid

2. Lacking color (skin)A2formal

   Having skin that is lighter than usual, often due to illness, fear, or shock.

   pâle (teint)

   • He looked pale after hearing the bad news.
   • She turned pale with fright when she saw the accident.
   • The patient's face was pale and drawn.

   Synonymesashenbloodlesschalkypallidpastypeakysallowwanwhite

   Antonymesblushingflushedredrosyruddy

3. Weak or inferiorB2formal

   Lacking strength, intensity, or impact; not impressive.

   faible, peu impressionnant

   • His attempt at an apology was a pale excuse.
   • The sequel was a pale imitation of the original film.
   • Her performance was pale compared to her earlier work.

   Synonymesblandcolorlessfeebleinadequateinferiorinsipidlacklusterpallidpoortameunimpressivewanweak

   Antonymesintensepowerfulstrongvigorous

• Nom désignant un pieu en bois pointu ou un poteau, ainsi qu'au sens figuré une limite, une frontière ou un territoire délimité (comme dans l'expression « au-delà des limites »).

A noun referring to a pointed wooden stake or post, or metaphorically to a boundary, limit, or defined area (as in 'beyond the pale').

1. Stake or pointed piece of woodC1formal

   A pointed wooden stake used in fences or as a boundary marker.

   Pieu de clôture ou de délimitation

   • The fence was made of wooden pales driven into the ground.
   • He used a pale to mark the boundary of his property.
   • The old pale had rotted and needed replacement.

   Synonymespalingpicketpoststake

2. Enclosed area or territoryC2formalbritish

   An area enclosed by a fence or boundary, often used historically.

   Palissade, enceinte (territoire délimité)

   • The deer were kept within the pale of the estate.
   • Beyond the pale lay the wild forest.
   • The settlement was built within the pale for protection.

   Synonymescompoundconfinesdistrictenclosureprecinctterritory

• Verbe utilisé pour désigner l'action de pâlir ou de perdre de l'intensité, ainsi que pour indiquer que quelque chose semble moins important ou impressionnant par rapport à autre chose.

A verb used to indicate the act of becoming lighter in color or losing intensity, or to seem less important when compared to something else.

1. Become lighter in colorB1formal

   To become lighter or whiter in complexion, often due to fear, illness, or shock.

   pâlir

   • She paled when she heard the bad news.
   • His face paled with fear as the car approached.
   • The patient's skin paled after losing a lot of blood.

   Synonymesblanchfadewhiten

   Antonymesblushcolordarkenflushredden

2. Seem less importantB2formal

   To seem less significant or impressive when compared to something else.

   pâlir en comparaison

   • His achievements pale in comparison to hers.
   • The small town's festival pales beside the city's grand celebration.
   • Her earlier work pales next to her latest masterpiece.

   Synonymesdiminishdwindlefadelessenshrink

   Antonymesdominateexceloutshineshine