/steɪl; stel/
adj
1 (esp of food) smelling or tasting unpleasant, mouldy or dry, because no longer fresh （尤指食物）不新鲜的, 走味的, 带霉味的, 乾瘪的
*stale biscuits, bread, cake, beer 不新鲜的饼乾、面包、糕饼、啤酒
* the smell of stale cigarette smoke 陈旧香烟的烟味.
2 no longer interesting because heard, done, etc too often before; not new 因陈旧而乏味的; 过时的
*stale news, jokes, ideas 老掉牙的消息、笑话、思想
* Her performance has become stale. 她的表演没有新意了.
3 (of athletes, musicians, performers, etc) no longer able to perform well because of too much training, playing, practice, etc （指运动员、音乐工作者、表演者等）（因训练、演奏、练习等过度）疲沓的.

v [I] become stale 变得不新鲜; 走味; 失去新意; 变得疲沓
*The pleasure I get from listening to such music never stales. 这种音乐我百听不厌.

adj
[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: Probably from Old French estale 'standing still, settled', from estal 'standing place']
bread or cake that is stale is no longer fresh or good to eat
≠ fresh
　French bread goes stale (=becomes stale) very quickly.
　stale cake
air that is stale is not fresh or pleasant
≠ fresh
　the smell of stale smoke
not interesting or exciting any more
　stale jokes
　Other marriages might go stale , but not theirs.
if you get stale, you have no new ideas, interest, or energy, because you have been doing the same thing for too long
　If you stay in the job for more than 10 years, you get stale .
　He was becoming stale and running out of ideas.
>stalenessn[U]