stain
Americannoun
-
a discoloration produced by foreign matter having penetrated into or chemically reacted with a material; a spot not easily removed.
- Synonyms:
- blot, imperfection, mark
-
a natural spot or patch of color different from that of the basic color, as on the body of an animal.
-
a cause of reproach; stigma; blemish.
a stain on one's reputation.
- Synonyms:
- taint, blot, imperfection, mark
-
coloration produced by a dye that penetrates a substance, as wood.
-
a dye made into a solution for coloring woods, textiles, etc.
-
a reagent or dye used in treating a specimen for microscopic examination.
verb (used with object)
-
to discolor with spots or streaks of foreign matter.
-
to bring reproach or dishonor upon; blemish.
-
to sully with guilt or infamy; corrupt.
-
to color or dye (wood, cloth, etc.) by any of various processes that change or react with the substance chemically.
-
to color with something that penetrates the substance.
-
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)
-
to produce a stain.
-
to become stained; take a stain.
This fabric stains easily.
verb
-
to mark or discolour with patches of something that dirties
the dress was stained with coffee
-
to dye with a penetrating dyestuff or pigment
-
to bring disgrace or shame on
to stain someone's honour
-
to colour (specimens) for microscopic study by treatment with a dye or similar reagent
-
(intr) to produce indelible marks or discoloration
does ink stain?
noun
-
a spot, mark, or discoloration
-
a moral taint; blemish or slur
-
a dye or similar reagent, used to colour specimens for microscopic study
-
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
-
any dye that is made into a solution and used to colour textiles and hides
Usage
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."
Other Word Forms
- destainer noun
- nonstainable adjective
- nonstainer noun
- nonstaining adjective
- restain verb
- stainability noun
- stainable adjective
- stainableness noun
- stainably adverb
- stainer noun
- understain noun
- well-stained adjective
Etymology
Origin of stain
1350–1400; Middle English steynen < Old Norse steina to paint; in some senses aphetic form of distain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She takes out her laptop and her science notebook and as she gets organized, I start sanding the top of a small side table that has water stains and scratches.
From Literature
The old woman has deeply lined, sunburned skin and wears a stained apron over her dress.
From Literature
Artist Ben Tuna has turned the shells of burned-out vintage Porsches into artistic symbols of revival through his work with stained glass salvaged from churches.
From Los Angeles Times
"Antisemitism is a stain on society, and prejudice is a stain because it isn't just a Jewish problem."
From BBC
It was these vehicles that captured the imagination of Ben Tuna, a self-described car guy and stained glass artist, who saw a way to create something beautiful from the rubble.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
