noun
tale
TEHL
noun
1
A story, especially one that is told aloud and may be fictional or exaggerated.
"Grandfather told us a tale about ghosts in the old mill."
"The whole thing sounded like a tall tale to me."
2
A piece of gossip or a report, sometimes untrue or exaggerated.
"She spread tales about her neighbors all over town."
How to Use Tale
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA story told out loud, or a bit of gossip that may stretch the truth.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "tail" (the back part of an animal) — they sound identical but mean completely different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tell a tale
a tall tale
fairy tale
tales of adventure
Word Forms
taled past tense, tales plural, tales singular
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Grandfather told us a _____ about ghosts in the old mill.
Etymology
From Old English talu, meaning "story, series, or reckoning," related to "tell" and "talk."