stain

¹stain

verb \ˈstān\

Definition of STAIN

transitive verb

1

: to suffuse with color

2

: discolor, soil

3

a : taint 3 <a conscience stained with guilt> b : to bring discredit on <the scandal stained his reputation>

4

: to color (as wood, glass, or cloth) by processes affecting chemically or otherwise the material itself

intransitive verb

: to receive a stain

— stain·able \ˈstā-nə-bəl\ adjective

— stain·er \ˈstā-nər\ noun

Examples of STAIN

1. The red wine stained the carpet.
2. He stained the wood a dark cherry color.
3. The accusations stained his reputation.

Origin of STAIN

Middle English steynen, partly from Anglo-French desteindre to take away the color from & partly of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse steina to paint — more at distain

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to STAIN

Synonyms: blemish, darken, mar, poison, spoil, taint, tarnish, touch, vitiate

Antonyms: decolorize

Related Words: begrime, besmear, besmirch, blacken, blur, cloud, dirty, discolor, pollute, smear, smirch, smudge, smut, soil, sully, tar; abase, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, lower, shame, sink; bastardize, corrupt, debauch, demoralize, deprave, pervert, subvert; color, distort, twist

Near Antonyms: cleanse, purify; dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, glorify, hallow, magnify, uplift

see all synonyms and antonyms

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