pale

Universal Words adjective, verb, noun adjective (paler, palest) 1 (of a person, their face, etc.) having skin that is almost white; having skin that is whiter than usual because of illness, a strong emotion, etc: a pale complexion * pale with anger / fear / shock * to go / turn pale * You look pale. Are you OK? * The ordeal left her looking pale and drawn. seealsoPALLOR 2 light in colour; containing a lot of white: pale blue eyes * a paler shade of green * a pale sky OPPDARK, DEEP 3 (of light) not strong or bright: the cold pale light of dawn seealsoPALLID palely adverb: Mark stared palely (= with a pale face) at his plate. paleness noun [U] verb [V] ~ (at sth) (written) to become paler than usual: She (= her face) paled visibly at the sight of the police car. * The blue of the sky paled to a light grey. IDIOMS pale beside / next to sth