pastel Hear it!

pastel definition

pas·tel (pas tel′)

noun

    1. ground coloring matter mixed with gum and formed into a crayon
    2. such a crayon
  2. a picture drawn with such crayons
  3. drawing with pastels as an art form or medium
  4. a soft, pale shade of any color

Etymology: Fr < It pastello < VL *pastellum, dim. of LL pasta, paste

adjective

  1. soft and pale: said of colors
  2. of pastel
  3. drawn with pastels

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

pastel Synonyms

pastel

n.

  1. A sketch

    portrait, depiction, design; see drawing 1, picture 3, representation, sketch 1.

  2. A pale color

    tint, tinge, hue, tone, delicate color; see also color 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

pastel Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • velour: Mitzi Lovely Mitzi's painting is painted in soft pastels on velour.

Adjective modifier

  • soft: They are not crayons, oil pastels or soft pastels.

Converse of object

  • use: They used pastels over the top of the prints to add more detail.

Modifying Another Word

  • pretty: With it's steep wooded valleys, and pretty pastel houses clinging to the hillsides, Dartmouth boasts the prettiest town in England.

Modifies a noun

  • shade: The mount was often a pastel shade, with pattern.

Noun used with modifier

  • chalk: I also work on portrait drawings in pencil, charcoal or chalk pastel.
pastel usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"pastel." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/pastel>

APA Style

pastel. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/pastel

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