stain
Americannoun
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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.
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a cause of reproach; stigma; blemish.
a stain on one's reputation.
- Synonyms:
- taint, blot, imperfection, mark
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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.
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a reagent or dye used in treating a specimen for microscopic examination.
verb (used with object)
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to discolor with spots or streaks of foreign matter.
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to bring reproach or dishonor upon; blemish.
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to sully with guilt or infamy; corrupt.
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to color or dye (wood, cloth, etc.) by any of various processes that change or react with the substance chemically.
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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.
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to become stained; take a stain.
This fabric stains easily.
verb
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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
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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
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(intr) to produce indelible marks or discoloration
does ink stain?
noun
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a spot, mark, or discoloration
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a moral taint; blemish or slur
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a dye or similar reagent, used to colour specimens for microscopic study
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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
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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
Explanation
A stain is a mark or discoloration, and to stain something is to mark it with dirt or color it, either deliberately or accidentally. If you stain your sister's favorite sweatshirt, she might be mad at you—especially if you didn't ask before borrowing it. You can stain your favorite white pants when you're eating strawberries, or stain the table top you're making by painting it with a tinted liquid. The resulting stain in both cases is visible. Another kind of stain is a figurative mark or blemish, like the stain on your school records from that difficult semester when you never did your homework. Stain comes, via the Middle English disteynen, or "discolor," from the Latin tingere, "to color or dye."
Vocabulary lists containing stain
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.
School uniforms and non-stick pans are some of the everyday products that are treated with a group of chemicals, called PFAS, to make them stain and water resistant.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026
It was pink and soft, with a satin edge and an oval stain caused by a regrettable interaction with Silly Putty.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026
He knew that slavery would be a permanent stain on his reputation.
From Slate • Feb. 16, 2026
Netflix created several product tie-ins for “Stranger Things,” a family hit popular with children and their parents, including Doritos, Gatorade and a Tide stain fighter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 15, 2026
Days later she told me Cunningham had laughed at her feet without shoes, and the stain on her dress.
From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff
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.
