Stale

1. (alcoholic beverages, obsolete) Clear, free of dregs and lees; old and strong.
2. No longer fresh, in reference to food, urine, straw, wounds, etc.
3. No longer fresh, new, or interesting, in reference to ideas and immaterial things; cliche, hackneyed, dated.
4. No longer nubile or suitable for marriage, in reference to people; past one's prime.
5. (agriculture, obsolete) Fallow, in reference to land.
6. (law) Unreasonably long in coming, in reference to claims and actions.
7. Taking a long time to change
8. Worn out, particularly due to age or over-exertion, in reference to athletes and animals in competition.
9. (finance) Out of date, unpaid for an unreasonable amount of time, particularly in reference to checks.
10. (computing) Of data: out of date; not synchronized with the newest copy.

Usage notes

In the third sense regarding food, usually (but not always) pejorative and synonymous with gone bad and turned. In reference to mead, wine, and bread, it can describe an acceptable or desired state (see: crouton). In modern English, however, "stale beer" has been light struck, flat, or oxidized and is to be avoided.

Synonyms

• hackneyed

Antonyms

• fresh