stain

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 (something, such as wood, glass, or cloth) by processes affecting chemically or otherwise the material itself

intransitive verb

:to receive a stain

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stainable

play \ˈstā-nə-bəl\ adjective

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stainer

play \ˈstā-nər\ noun

See stain defined for English-language learners

See stain defined for kids

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

An even more astonishing cobia fillet, at once meaty and delicate, bathes in a mild, gently sweet sauce scented by curry leaf and stained by tumeric that's offset by crunchy bitter-melon chips—

— mike sula, Chicago Reader, "Proxi takes diners around the world in 32 dishes," 15 Aug. 2017
On one side, a full skeleton still stained brown and black from disintegrating flesh is laid out on a sheet.

— benjamin preston, Fortune, "A 9-Day Journey Along the Most Controversial Strip of Land in Trump’s America," 24 July 2017
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.

— mike sula, Chicago Reader, "Daisies pushes pasta in a midwestern direction," 19 July 2017
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.

— yadira sanchez olson, Lake County News-Sun, "Flooding waste pick-ups have begun in Lake County," 18 July 2017
Some of its communities, especially remote indigenous reserves, are afflicted with poverty and squalor that stain the national conscience.

— jonathan kay, The Atlantic, "Why Canada Is Able to Do Things Better," 17 July 2017
Refurbished, stained bar stools are tucked under the table’s metal base.

— madeleine winer, The Courier-Journal, "Old meets new in this bachelor pad with skyline views of Louisville," 6 July 2017
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).

— maddy zollo, Seventeen, "7 Ways To Fight Fugly Feet This Summer," 30 June 2017
And, to keep your hands from staining red, wear gloves.

— caron golden, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "Brian Malarkey’s perfect picnic," 28 June 2017

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

stain Synonyms

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

stain

noun

Definition of stain

1 a :a soiled or discolored spot

b :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 as

a :a dye or pigment capable of penetrating the pores of wood

b :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

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stainproof

play \-ˌprüf\ adjective

See stain defined for English-language learners

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

The jury also saw photos of Anthony Jackson's pants, which had blood stains above and inside the back pocket.

— ashley remkus, AL.com, "No death penalty for Huntsville church food pantry killer who stabbed elderly brothers to death," 22 Aug. 2017
Some suggested blue stains around the mouth or nose from trying to abuse the drug could become popular among addicts.

— linda a. johnson, The Seattle Times, "FDA panel: Not enough data to OK “abuse-deterrent” opioid," 26 July 2017
Alas, someone left an indelible mascara stain on the $5,000 white couch, for which the rental company insisted on full payment.

— george varga, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "Double treat? Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey set for joint SDSU concert," 25 July 2017
Alas, someone left an indelible mascara stain on the $5,000 white couch, for which the rental company insisted on full payment.

— george varga, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Double treat? Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey set for joint SDSU concert Thursday," 25 July 2017
Common ingredients include stain removers (such as sodium tripolyphosphateor hexametaphosphate and hydrated silica) and bleach, often listed as calcium peroxide or hydrogen peroxide.

— joanne chen, Redbook, "Teeth: An Owner's Manual," 24 July 2017
Unfortunately for Facebook, the fallout from the ProPublica report is the latest stain on those efforts.

— tom huddleston, Fortune, "Facebook’s Hate Speech Rules Make ‘White Men’ a Protected Group," 29 June 2017
Woman B: Sheet stains are a risk and should be considered collateral damage.

— anna breslaw, Cosmopolitan, "Your Anal Sex Questions Answered By Women Who've Had It," 23 June 2017
Lab tests linked Smith’s DNA to a semen stain on the girl’s underwear.

— ian cummings, kansascity.com, "Charges dropped in child molestation case investigated by failed KC police unit," 21 June 2017

First Known Use of stain

1557

stain Synonyms

Synonyms

blot, brand, onus, slur, smirch, smudge, spot, stigma, taint

Related Words

black eye, discredit, disesteem, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, guilt, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, shame; corruption, debauchery, depravity, immorality, iniquity, licentiousness, sin, unscrupulousness, vice

Near Antonyms

award, credit, honor; chasteness, chastity, modesty, purity, stainlessness; good, right; honesty, integrity, legitimacy, probity, rectitude, scrupulousness, uprightness; goodness, righteousness, virtuousness; fame, glory, renown, repute

STAIN Defined for English Language Learners

stain

verb

Definition 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

noun

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

stain

verb \ ˈstān \

Definition of stain for Students

stained; staining

1 :to soil or discolor especially in spots

2 :to use something (as a dye) to change the color of

I spent the weekend staining the deck.

3 :¹corrupt 1

Her conscience was stained.

4 :¹disgrace

The scandal stained his reputation.

stain

noun

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

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stainless

\-ləs\ adjective

Medical Dictionary

stain

transitive verb \ ˈstān \

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

noun

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