What does "ale" mean?

1. (type of beer) a type of beer that is brewed quickly at warm temperatures, often tasting fruity or bitter. 2. (historical festival) a country festival or party in old England where people drank a lot of beer.

How do you use "ale"?

Often used as a countable noun when referring to a specific variety or glass of the drink.

ale

US //ˈeɪɫ// UK //ˈeɪl// ale

1 type of beer (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a type of beer that is brewed quickly at warm temperatures, often tasting fruity or bitter.

a fermented malt beverage produced through warm fermentation with top-fermenting yeast.

Example

The pub serves several local ales that are very popular with the villagers.

Example

While lagers dominate the global market, traditional ales remain a staple of British pub culture due to their diverse range of flavours and textures.

Usage

Often used as a countable noun when referring to a specific variety or glass of the drink.
- beer
- brew
- lager
2 historical festival (n.)
C2 Proficiency Archaic British English

a country festival or party in old England where people drank a lot of beer.

a rural festival or merrymaking event in historical England, named after the primary beverage consumed there.

Example

The village held a church ale every spring to raise money for repairs.

Example

Historical records suggest that the 'Whitsun ale' was a vital social event for the medieval peasantry, combining religious observance with communal celebration.

Teacher's tip

This sense is archaic; modern learners will almost exclusively encounter 'ale' as a type of beverage.
- festival
- feast

Origin

From Middle English ale, from Old English ealu, ealo, from Proto-West Germanic alu, from Proto-Germanic alu (compare Dutch aal, Swedish öl), from Proto-Indo-European h₂elut- (“beer”), or h₂elu- (“bitter”). Compare Russian ол (ol), Lithuanian alùs, Armenian օղի (ōġi); compare also Latin alum (“comfrey”), alūta (“tawed leather”), Ancient Greek ἀλύδοιμος (alúdoimos, “bitter”).

Idioms2 entries