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  • fairy tale
    fairy tale
    noun
    a story, usually for children, about elves, hobgoblins, dragons, fairies, or other magical creatures.
  • fairy-tale
    fairy-tale
    adjective
    of or relating to a fairy tale
Synonyms

fairy tale

American  
[fair-ee teyl] / ˈfɛər i ˌteɪl /

noun

  1. a story, usually for children, about elves, hobgoblins, dragons, fairies, or other magical creatures.

  2. an incredible or misleading statement, account, or belief.

    His story of being a millionaire is just a fairy tale.


adjective

  1. of, relating to, or suggesting a fairy tale.

    a fairy-tale castle.

  2. idealized or romantic, often to an unrealistic extent.

    Many people still want to believe in true love and fairy-tale endings.

fairy-tale 1 British  

adjective

  1. of or relating to a fairy tale

  2. resembling a fairy tale, esp in being extremely happy or fortunate

    a true story with a fairy-tale ending

  3. highly improbable

    he came out with a fairy-tale account of his achievements

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

fairy tale 2 British  

noun

  1. a story about fairies or other mythical or magical beings, esp one of traditional origin told to children

  2. a highly improbable account

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of fairy tale

First recorded in 1740–50

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