TALE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com (original) (raw)

noun

a narrative that relates the details of some real or imaginary event, incident, or case; story.

a tale about Lincoln's dog.
a literary composition having the form of such a narrative.
a falsehood; lie.
a rumor or piece of gossip, often malicious or untrue.
the full number or amount.
Archaic. enumeration; count.
Obsolete. talk; discourse.

noun

a report, narrative, or story
one of a group of short stories connected by an overall narrative framework
1. a malicious or meddlesome rumour or piece of gossip
  
  to bear tales against someone
2. ( in combination )
  
  talebearer
  
  taleteller
a fictitious or false statement
1. to tell fanciful lies
2. to report malicious stories, trivial complaints, etc, esp to someone in authority
to reveal something important
to be self-evident
archaic
1. a number; amount
2. computation or enumeration
an obsolete word for talk

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tale

before 900; Middle English; Old English talu series, list, narrative, story; cognate with Dutch taal speech, language, German Zahl number, Old Norse tala number, speech. See tell 1

Explanation

A tale is a story, especially one that's full of creative embellishments. You can read a tale from a book, or tell a bedtime tale to the kids you're babysitting. Tales can be true or fictional, but they generally consist of a narrative, with a beginning and an end, made more interesting and exciting with vivid details. Some tales are meant to teach specific lessons (like your family's history or your community's values), while others simply relay a funny story. Tale can also mean "lie," like when your mom asks, "You're not telling a tale, are you?"

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing tale

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Who better to tell the tale of the city than the man who has spent years rifling through its junk?

FromLos Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

It wouldn’t be fair to divulge its details to those who are unfamiliar with the grisly tale, because it provides “Kenrex” with a dramatically, not to mention emotionally, satisfying conclusion.

FromThe Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

"It's such an unlikely tale, it could be out of a film," said Paul-Edouard Lallois, the prosecutor in charge of the enquiry.

FromBBC • May 6, 2026

Spirit’s collapse is a cautionary tale for people who hoard company loyalty points, said Katy Nastro, a travel expert at the travel site Going.

FromMarketWatch • May 4, 2026

The girls had told Mrs. Redfield some wide-eyed tale about hearing strange sounds in the night.

From"American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023