Definition of stain
transitive verb
1 : to suffuse with color
3a : taint 3 a conscience stained with guiltb : to bring discredit on the scandal stained his reputation
4 : to color (something, such as wood, glass, or cloth) by processes affecting chemically or otherwise the material itself
intransitive verb
: to receive a stain
Explore M-W
Examples of stain in a Sentence
The red wine stained the carpet.
He stained the wood a dark cherry color.
The accusations stained his reputation.
Recent Examples of stain from the Web
-
Along with the aforementioned chicken, the third is a plate of glistening blood-red agnolotti, a reprise from Balena, stained by beet juice, filled with feather-light ricotta, and dressed with dill and smoked trout roe.
-
The 25 textile recycling bins across the county collect worn, torn and stained textile,s but also new and gently used items that are recycled differently and help offset the cost of the program.
-
Some of its communities, especially remote indigenous reserves, are afflicted with poverty and squalor that stain the national conscience.
-
Refurbished, stained bar stools are tucked under the table’s metal base.
-
Always paint on a base coat to avoid the polish giving your nails a yellow-ish hue (but if this doesn't seem to nix any discoloration, switch to a 5-free polish that doesn't have any bad chemicals in it since it's less likely to stain).
-
And, to keep your hands from staining red, wear gloves.
-
As officers spoke to other residents, the young woman with what appeared to be blood staining her hands, got into a car with others and drove off.
-
Its interior includes a dozen stained glass panels from a closed Catholic church on the Chicago's South Side and seating for approximately 1,000.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology 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
stain
Definition of stain
1a : a soiled or discolored spotb : a natural spot of color contrasting with the ground
2 : a taint of guilt : stigma
3 : a preparation (as of dye or pigment) used in staining: such asa : a dye or pigment capable of penetrating the pores of woodb : a dye or mixture of dyes used in microscopy to make visible minute and transparent structures, to differentiate tissue elements, or to produce specific chemical reactions
Examples of stain in a Sentence
There's a juice stain on the floor.
She has a stain on her shirt.
Will those grass stains wash out?
Recent Examples of stain from the Web
-
Unfortunately for Facebook, the fallout from the ProPublica report is the latest stain on those efforts.
-
Lab tests linked Smith’s DNA to a semen stain on the girl’s underwear.
-
In addition to firefighting foam, PFOS was in 3M’s Scotchgard, which, since its reformulation, is still used to protect carpets and furniture from stains.
-
The gray stain on the white sofa only a handful of us knew the true origin of.
-
The current has been flowing consistently hard and is carrying a lot of stain which has made fishing areas adjacent to the river a little tough, Carter reports.
-
As is sometimes the case with genius, there were those who observed the uncommon elements of Keston Hiura’s art and measured them, against the canvas of consensus, as stains.
-
Bushemi presented more than a dozen photos taken by a Lake County detective from two scenes involving the incident showing damage to the minivan's bumper at the Oak Avenue and Pike Street scene, as well as a red stain on the pavement.
-
A playoff forfeit places a permanent stain on Argo and its athletic program.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of stain
1557
STAIN Defined for English Language Learners
stain
playDefinition of stain for English Language Learners
-
: to leave a mark on something
-
: to be marked or damaged by a stain
-
: to use a special liquid to change the color of (something)
stain
Definition of stain for English Language Learners
-
: a mark made on a surface, a piece of clothing, etc., that is very hard or impossible to remove
-
: a special liquid that is used to change the color of something (such as wood or cloth)
-
: something that causes people to have less respect for someone : something that damages a person's reputation
STAIN Defined for Kids
Definition of stain for Students
stained
;staining
Definition of stain for Students
1 : 1spot 2, discoloration Will this stain wash out?
2 : a mark of guilt or disgrace : stigma
3 : something (as a dye) used in staining
stainless
\-ləs\ adjectiveMedical Dictionary
Medical Definition of stain
1: to cause discoloration of smoking stains teeth
2: to color by processes affecting chemically or otherwise the material itself stain bacteria with a fluorescent dye
intransitive verb
: to receive a stain
stain
Medical Definition of stain
1: a discolored spot or area (as on the skin or teeth)—see port-wine stain
2: a preparation (as of dye or pigment) used in staining something; especially : a dye or mixture of dyes used in microscopy to make minute and transparent structures visible, to differentiate tissue elements, or to produce specific chemical reactions
Learn More about stain
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stain Spanish Central: Translation of stain Nglish: Translation of stain for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stain for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stain
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up stain? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!