Definition of "tale" in English

noun

1. A rehearsal of what has occurred; narrative; discourse; statement; history; story.

   • the Canterbury Tales

2. A number told or counted off; a reckoning by count; an enumeration.

3. (slang) The fraudulent opportunity presented by a confidence man to the mark or victim.

4. An account of an asserted fact or circumstance; a rumour; a report, especially an idle or malicious story; a piece of gossip or slander; a lie.

   • Don't tell tales!

5. (obsolete) Number; tally; quota.

6. (obsolete) Account; estimation; regard; heed.

7. (obsolete) Speech; language.

8. (obsolete) A speech; a statement; talk; conversation; discourse.

9. (law, obsolete) A count; declaration.

10. (rare or archaic) A number of things considered as an aggregate; sum.

11. (rare or archaic) A report of any matter; a relation; a version.

verb

1. (dialectal or obsolete) To speak; discourse; tell tales.

2. (dialectal, chiefly Scotland) To reckon; consider (someone) to have something.

noun

1. Alternative form of tael.