discolor

[dis-kuhl-er]

verb (used with object)

1. to change or spoil the color of; fade or stain.

verb (used without object)

1. to change color; become faded or stained.

Other Word Forms

• undiscolored adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of discolor¹

1350–1400; Middle English discolouren < Old French descolorer < Late Latin discolorārī to change color, derivative of Latin discolor of another color. See dis- ¹, color

Example Sentences

The sun was melting the ice keeping the bags of sour cream cool, and the fruit was becoming discolored, with flies beginning to circle.

From Los Angeles Times

In the mirror it was massive, taut and discolored.

From Los Angeles Times

In the corner of the room, boxes and bags stuffed with clothes, towels and blankets that hadn’t been fouled by smoke from the Eaton fire sat next to a fish tank with discolored water.

From Los Angeles Times

Residents in McDowell County, West Virginia — where one-third of families live in poverty — have for example given up on the often discolored water that flows from their taps and buy it by the case instead.

From Salon

A chemist for the Alcoa Aluminum Company doing research on discolored teeth to determine whether it was caused by aluminum discovered that the cause was fluoride, not aluminum.

From Salon

Related Words

• defile 
• rust 
• sully