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
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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.
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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.
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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
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to dye with a penetrating dyestuff or pigment
-
to bring disgrace or shame on
to stain someone's honour
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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.
As he grabs a paper towel to wipe a stain on his stovetop, he narrates what he is doing, as the manager he met at the cafe had instructed him to do.
From Los Angeles Times
I rinse the stain in the sink and wring out the fabric, and then I stand under the hand dryer, angling my body so the hot air hits the wet part.
From Literature
We weren’t allowed to take off our blazers in school, even when it was hot, so mine always got stained from the sweat.
From Literature
As I kneeled next to him near the stain in the snow, the smell was wrong for what I thought it was.
From Literature
She leaned against her cane with one hand, but the other hand, stained with peat, was up against the cottage doorway, trembling the slightest bit.
From Literature
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.
