stain

[steyn]

noun

1. a discoloration produced by foreign matter having penetrated into or chemically reacted with a material; a spot not easily removed.

   Synonyms: blot, imperfection, mark

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

3. a cause of reproach; stigma; blemish.

   a stain on one's reputation.

   Synonyms: taint, blot, imperfection, mark

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

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

6. 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.

   Synonyms: dirty, soil, streak, spot

2. to bring reproach or dishonor upon; blemish.

   Synonyms: pollute, contaminate, defile, debase, dishonor, disgrace, tarnish, taint, sully

3. to sully with guilt or infamy; corrupt.

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

5. to color with something that penetrates the substance.

6. 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.

stain

/ steɪn /

verb

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

3. to bring disgrace or shame on

   to stain someone's honour

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

5. (intr) to produce indelible marks or discoloration

   does ink stain?

noun

1. a spot, mark, or discoloration

2. a moral taint; blemish or slur

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

4. 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

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

Other Word Forms

• stainable adjective
• stainability noun
• stainableness noun
• stainably adverb
• stainer noun
• destainer noun
• nonstainable adjective
• nonstainer noun
• nonstaining adjective
• restain verb
• understain verb (used with object)
• well-stained adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stain¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of stain¹

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

Example Sentences

By this definition, that washing machine of mine, which outperforms my human ability to remove stains and provides vast economic value, represents a kind of artificial specific intelligence.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Insisting he was unbowed, he said the deaths would be “the fuel of victory, the path to Jerusalem and a stain that will forever haunt the occupation.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

But step into the backyard, past the colorful paintings, textiles, tiles, stained glass and ceramics and the new rear exterior — painted a bright yellow — and it’s like a completely different property.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A few have Asian-inspired elements like flared or upturned columns or dormers, while others incorporate floral motifs and stained glass.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“In eight short months, you have fundamentally transformed the Justice Department and left an enormous stain on American history,” Durbin said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• besmirch 
• blacken 
• contaminate 
• daub 
• discolor 
• dye 
• smear 
• smudge 
• sully 
• tar 
• tarnish 
• tint 

When To Use

What else does stain mean?

In general, a stain is something that leaves a mark.In youth slang, a stain is a "worthless person." In Black American slang, stain is a gang culture expression for "armed robbery."