to become stale
1stale — stale1 [stāl] adj. staler, stalest [ME, prob. via Anglo Norm < OFr estale, quiet, stagnant < Gmc * stall: for IE base see STILL1] 1. having lost freshness; made musty, dry, bad, etc. by having been kept too long; specif., a) flat; vapid;… …
2stale — ► ADJECTIVE (staler, stalest) 1) (of food) no longer fresh or pleasant to eat. 2) no longer new and interesting. 3) no longer performing well because of having done something for too long. ► VERB ▪ make or become stale. DERIVATIVES …
3stale — [[t]ste͟ɪl[/t]] staler, stalest 1) ADJ GRADED Stale food is no longer fresh or good to eat. Their daily diet consisted of a lump of stale bread, a bowl of rice and stale water. Ant: fresh 2) ADJ GRADED Stale air or smells are unpleasant because… …
4stale´ness — stale1 «stayl», adjective, stal|er, stal|est, verb, staled, stal|ing. –adj. 1. that has lost some or all of its softness, flavor, or consistency through age; not fresh: » …
5stale´ly — stale1 «stayl», adjective, stal|er, stal|est, verb, staled, stal|ing. –adj. 1. that has lost some or all of its softness, flavor, or consistency through age; not fresh: » …
6stale — I [[t]steɪl[/t]] adj. stal•er, stal•est, 1) not fresh; vapid or flat, as beverages; dry or hardened, as bread 2) musty; stagnant: stale air[/ex] 3) hackneyed; trite: a stale joke[/ex] 4) having lost interest, initiative, or the like, as from… …
7stale — I. adjective (staler; stalest) Etymology: Middle English, settled, clear (of ale), not fresh, from Anglo French estale, probably from Middle Dutch stel old (of beer) Date: 15th century 1. tasteless or unpalatable from age < stale bread > 2.… …
8stale — 1. adjective /steɪl/ a) Having lost its freshness from age. Stale food, for instance, is food which is still edible but has lost its deliciousness. The steak is as stale as the beer. b) No longer new; no longer interesting; established; old; …
9stale — 1. adj. & v. adj. (staler, stalest) 1 a not fresh, not quite new (stale bread is best for toast). b musty, insipid, or otherwise the worse for age or use. 2 trite or unoriginal (a stale joke; stale news). 3 (of an athlete or other performer)… …
10stale — stale1 stalely, adv. staleness, n. /stayl/, adj., staler, stalest, v., staled, staling. adj. 1. not fresh; vapid or flat, as beverages; dry or hardened, as bread. 2. musty; stagnant: stale air. 3. having lost no …