Main Entry:

¹pas·tel

Pronunciation:

\pas-ˈtel\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French, from Italian pastello, from Late Latin pastellus woad, from diminutive of pasta

Date:

1662

1: a paste made of powdered pigment ranging from pale to deep colors and used for making crayons ; also : a crayon made of such paste2 a: a drawing in pastel b: the process or art of drawing with pastels3: a light literary sketch4: any of various pale or light colors