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stain

Nouns

• (n) a soiled or discolored appearance
  • the wine left a dark stain
  discoloration, discolouration,
• (n) (microscopy) a dye or other coloring material that is used in microscopy to make structures visible
• (n) the state of being covered with unclean things grime, grunge, soil, dirt, filth, grease,
• (n) a symbol of disgrace or infamy
  • "And the Lord set a mark upon Cain"--Genesis
  stigma, brand, mark,
• (n) an act that brings discredit to the person who does it
  • he made a huge blot on his copybook
  blot, smirch, smear, spot,

Verbs

• (v) color with a liquid dye or tint
  • Stain this table a beautiful walnut color
  • people knew how to stain glass a beautiful blue in the middle ages
• (v) produce or leave stains
  • Red wine stains the table cloth
• (v) make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically
  • The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air
  • Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man
  maculate, tarnish, defile, sully,
• (v) color for microscopic study
  • The laboratory worker dyed the specimen

Synonyms

discoloration discolouration maculate tarnish defile sully grime grunge soil dirt filth grease stigma brand mark blot smirch smear spot

Words of close approximity