B1nounartslanguage
US/teɪl/
UK/teɪl/
a story, especially one about imaginary or exciting events
In context
My grandmother used to tell us folk tales about clever rabbits and greedy tigers.
The film is a tale of two brothers who leave the countryside for Saigon.
He came back from his trip with wild tales about getting lost in the jungle.
Words that go with tale
noun + noun
- fairy taleTheir wedding looked like something from a fairy tale.
- folk taleEvery country has a folk tale about a poor boy who becomes rich.
noun + preposition
- tale ofIt is a tale of love, war and loss.
verb + noun
- tell a taleThe old fisherman loves to tell a tale about the storm of 1985.
adjective + noun
- cautionary taleHis story is a cautionary tale about borrowing money online.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
She told me a tale about her real day at work.Correct: She told me about her day at work.