pastel

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpast(ə)l/

noun

  • 1a crayon made of powdered pigments bound with gum or resin: future issues will demonstrate work with pastels and marker pens [as modifier]: a pastel drawing
  • a work of art created with pastels: a pastel entitled ‘Girl braiding her hair’
  • 2a soft and delicate shade of a colour: the subtlest of pastels and creams

adjective

  • of a soft and delicate shade of colour: pastel blue curtains

Derivatives

pastellist

(also pastelist) noun

Origin:

mid 17th century: via French from Italian pastello, diminutive of pasta 'paste'