stain

[ steyn ]
See synonyms for stain on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a discoloration produced by foreign matter having penetrated into or chemically reacted with a material; a spot not easily removed.

  2. a natural spot or patch of color different from that of the basic color, as on the body of an animal.

  1. a cause of reproach; stigma; blemish: a stain on one's reputation.

  2. coloration produced by a dye that penetrates a substance, as wood.

  3. a dye made into a solution for coloring woods, textiles, etc.

  4. a reagent or dye used in treating a specimen for microscopic examination.

verb (used with object)
  1. to discolor with spots or streaks of foreign matter.

  2. to bring reproach or dishonor upon; blemish.

  1. to sully with guilt or infamy; corrupt.

  2. to color or dye (wood, cloth, etc.) by any of various processes that change or react with the substance chemically.

  3. to color with something that penetrates the substance.

  4. to treat (a microscopic specimen) with some reagent or dye in order to color the whole or parts and so give distinctness, contrast of tissues, etc.

verb (used without object)
  1. to produce a stain.

  2. to become stained; take a stain: This fabric stains easily.

Origin of stain

1
1350–1400; Middle English steynen<Old Norse steina to paint; in some senses aphetic form of distain

Other words for stain

Other words from stain

  • stain·a·ble, adjective
  • stain·a·bil·i·ty, stain·a·ble·ness, noun
  • stain·a·bly, adverb
  • stainer, noun
  • de·stain·er, noun
  • non·stain·a·ble, adjective
  • non·stain·er, noun
  • non·stain·ing, adjective
  • re·stain, verb
  • un·der·stain, noun
  • un·der·stain, verb (used with object)
  • well-stained, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for stain

stain

/ (steɪn) /


verb(mainly tr)
  1. to mark or discolour with patches of something that dirties: the dress was stained with coffee

  2. to dye with a penetrating dyestuff or pigment

  1. to bring disgrace or shame on: to stain someone's honour

  2. to colour (specimens) for microscopic study by treatment with a dye or similar reagent

  3. (intr) to produce indelible marks or discoloration: does ink stain?

noun
  1. a spot, mark, or discoloration

  2. a moral taint; blemish or slur

  1. a dye or similar reagent, used to colour specimens for microscopic study

  2. a solution or liquid used to penetrate the surface of a material, esp wood, and impart a rich colour without covering up the surface or grain

  3. any dye that is made into a solution and used to colour textiles and hides

Origin of stain

1
C14 steynen (vb), shortened from disteynen to remove colour from, from Old French desteindre to discolour, from des- dis- 1 + teindre, from Latin tingere to tinge

Derived forms of stain

  • stainable, adjective
  • stainability, noun
  • stainer, noun

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