tale
♦ tale /t'eɪl/ (tales)
1 [N-COUNT; N-IN-NAMES]
A tale is a story, often involving magic or exciting events.
...a collection of stories, poems and folk tales...
2 [N-COUNT] usu with supp, oft N of n
You can refer to an interesting, exciting, or dramatic account of a real event as a tale.
The media have been filled with tales of horror and loss resulting from Monday's earthquake.
= story
3
see also fairy tale, old wives' tale,
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you survive a dangerous or frightening experience and so are able to tell people about it afterwards, you can say that you lived to tell the tale.
You lived to tell the tale this time but who knows how far you can push your luck.
5 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone tells tales about you, they tell other people things about you which are untrue or which you wanted to be kept secret.
I hesitated, not wanting to tell tales about my colleague.
see also tell-talefairy tale (fairy tales)
also fairytale
[N-COUNT]
A fairy tale is a story for children involving magical events and imaginary creatures.
She was like a princess in a fairy tale.old wives' tale (old wives' tales)
[N-COUNT]
An old wives' tale is a traditional belief, especially one which is incorrect.
Ann Bradley dispels the old wives' tales and gives the medical facts.tall tale (tall tales)
[N-COUNT]
A tall tale is a long and complicated story that is difficult to believe because most of the events it describes seem unlikely or impossible.
...the imaginative tall tales of sailors.
1 [N-COUNT; N-IN-NAMES]
A tale is a story, often involving magic or exciting events.
...a collection of stories, poems and folk tales...
2 [N-COUNT] usu with supp, oft N of n
You can refer to an interesting, exciting, or dramatic account of a real event as a tale.
The media have been filled with tales of horror and loss resulting from Monday's earthquake.
= story
3
see also fairy tale, old wives' tale,
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you survive a dangerous or frightening experience and so are able to tell people about it afterwards, you can say that you lived to tell the tale.
You lived to tell the tale this time but who knows how far you can push your luck.
5 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone tells tales about you, they tell other people things about you which are untrue or which you wanted to be kept secret.
I hesitated, not wanting to tell tales about my colleague.
see also tell-talefairy tale (fairy tales)
also fairytale
[N-COUNT]
A fairy tale is a story for children involving magical events and imaginary creatures.
She was like a princess in a fairy tale.old wives' tale (old wives' tales)
[N-COUNT]
An old wives' tale is a traditional belief, especially one which is incorrect.
Ann Bradley dispels the old wives' tales and gives the medical facts.tall tale (tall tales)
[N-COUNT]
A tall tale is a long and complicated story that is difficult to believe because most of the events it describes seem unlikely or impossible.
...the imaginative tall tales of sailors.