stain1 verbstain2 noun
stainstain1 /steɪn/ ●○○ verb 
WORD ORIGINstain1
Origin:
1400-1500 Partly from Old French desteindre ‘to discolor’, from teindre ‘to give something a different color’, from Latin tingere ( ➔ TINGE2); partly from Old Norse steina ‘to paint’VERB TABLE
stain
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | stain |
| he, she, it | stains | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | stained |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have stained |
| he, she, it | has stained | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had stained |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will stain |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have stained |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am staining |
| he, she, it | is staining | |
| you, we, they | are staining | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was staining |
| you, we, they | were staining | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been staining |
| he, she, it | has been staining | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been staining |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be staining |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been staining |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- She hoped the blood from the cut on her arm would not stain her blouse.
- Sweat stained his dusty cowboy hat.
- The blackberry juice had stained their clothes and fingers.
- A sudden gust of rain dashed against the red bricks that were already stained in patches by water.
- Her fingers were stained with dirt, her nail varnish chipped.
Longman Language Activatorto make a mark
to make a large mark on something, which is difficult to remove: · The blackberry juice had stained their clothes and fingers.· She hoped the blood from the cut on her arm would not stain her blouse.
to damage the surface of something by making a mark on it: · Put the lid on your pen so it doesn't mark the tablecloth.
to make a mark or stain on something, often without realizing you have done this: leave a mark/leave a stain on: · The children walked through the kitchen in their boots, leaving muddy marks on the floor.· Builders' sand leaves an orange stain on paths.
WORD SETSbasketry, nounbatik, nouncabinet-maker, nouncarpenter, nouncarpentry, nouncooper, nouncraft, nouncraft, verbcraftsmanship, nouncraftswoman, nounlathe, nounloom, nounpokerwork, nounraffia, nounsaddler, nounsaddlery, nounstain, verbstain, nountie-dye, verbturner, nounvarnish, verbveneer, nounveneered, adjectiveweave, verbweave, nounweaver, nounwhittle, verbwoodcarving, nounwoodwork, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
The wine had left a permanent mark on the tablecloth. shock-resistant rubber a new washing powder that will shift any stain
(=a mark left by coffee or a coffee cup)· The table was covered in coffee stains.
(=glass of different colours used in windows)· He designed the stained glass windows of Coventry Cathedral.
(=marks on clothing caused by grass)· It's going to be difficult to get the grass stains out of these trousers.
The wine had left a permanent mark on the tablecloth. shock-resistant rubber a new washing powder that will shift any stain (=made of pieces of coloured glass)· The church has fine medieval stained glass windows.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Eating flesh was unholy, and blood would stain an altar; only meal and grain were acceptable for food and sacrifice.· Despite the gravity of the situation I can see Grant wondering if the blood will stain the seat's white plastic.· It was his blood that stained her dress and face and she was glad.· Other arms took on the burden, and blood stained richly on the sleeves of Holly's tunic.
· Within one to two months, the newly grown tumours were removed and their representative sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin.· One section was stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histological evaluation.· The biopsies were fixed in formalin and stained with haematoxylin and eosin.· Consecutive sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histological evaluation of in-situ hybridisation results.· Longitudinal sections along the duodenum were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histological examination.· The first serial section from each block was stained by haematoxylin and eosin.· Paraffin sections were cut at three levels and stained with haematoxylin and eosin.· The paraffin sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin.
· Within one to two months, the newly grown tumours were removed and their representative sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin.· One section was stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histological evaluation.· The biopsies were fixed in formalin and stained with haematoxylin and eosin.· Consecutive sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histological evaluation of in-situ hybridisation results.· Longitudinal sections along the duodenum were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histological examination.· The first serial section from each block was stained by haematoxylin and eosin.· Paraffin sections were cut at three levels and stained with haematoxylin and eosin.· The paraffin sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin.
· And new stained glass in the windows.· Wire mesh covered the stained and permanently soiled windows.· Rays of afternoon light poured through the stained glass windows, drenching the sanctuary with splashes of color.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[intransitive, transitive] to accidentally make a mark on something, especially one that cannot be removed, or to be marked in this way: - If they are undamaged remove the polish with nail varnish remover.
Be careful you don’t stain the carpet. This tablecloth stains very easily. Her fingers were stained yellow from years of smoking.stain with a cowboy hat stained with dust and sweat2[transitive] to change the colour of something, especially something made of wood, by using a special liquid: We’ve decided to stain the shelves blue.3stain somebody’s name/honour/reputation etc literary to damage the good opinion that people have about someonestain1 verbstain2 noun
stainstain2 ●○○ noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I can't get this stain out of the carpet.
- Salt is the best cure for a red wine stain.
- The pillow had a large stain on it the color of tobacco.
- Although the pulsed dye laser is often considered of limited value in mature portwine stain, Tan has recently reported excellent results.
- I studied him in fascination as he polished his shoes each night after supper and inspected his suits for wrinkles and stains.
- She could feel the red stain crawl up her neck as she caught his drift.
- They had to gut the place because of the stains and the smell.
- Water is a miraculous substance remover; it will remove probably 85 percent of all stains.
THESAURUSa dirty mark
a dirty area on something that spoils its appearance: · The bark of the tree had made black marks on her trousers.
a small mark on something: · a grease spot on my shirt
a mark that is difficult to remove, especially one made by a dark liquid: · a wine stain on the tablecloth· blood stains
a mark that is made when something touches against a surface: · There was a smudge of lipstick on his cheek.· He had a smudge of chalk on his jacket.
a mark that is made by a small amount of something spread across a surface: · The table had a smear of paint on the top.
(also fingermark British English) a mark on the surface of something that is made by someone’s fingers: · The glass was covered with greasy fingerprints.
Longman Language Activatora mark on something that spoils its appearance a spot or line on clothes, furniture, a wall, or floor etc, for example where it has been damaged, made dirty, or where someone has dropped liquid on it: · There are marks on the door where the cat has scratched it.make a mark: · Hot cups of tea can make marks on polished tables.dirty/greasy/sticky mark: · How did you get that dirty mark on your T-shirt?dirt/grease/pencil mark: · His shoes had left dirt marks across the carpet.
a large mark that is difficult to remove, made when a liquid such as coffee or wine falls onto something: · I can't get this stain out of the carpet.grass/coffee/wine/blood stain: · Salt is the best cure for a red wine stain.
a small round area on a surface, which is of a different colour from the rest of the surface and is made especially by drops of liquid: spot of: · Detectives found a few spots of blood on the carpet.ink/paint/oil spots: · The letter was covered in small ink spots, as though his hand had been shaking as he wrote it.
especially British an area where dirt, water, oil etc has made a mark on a floor, wall, or ceiling: greasy/dirty/damp patch: · There's a damp patch under the window.patch of dirt/damp/grease: · Patches of grease covered the kitchen walls.
a dirty mark made when ink or paint is accidentally rubbed on a surface: · You can't hand your homework in with those smudges all over it.smudge of: · Ella had a smudge of green paint on her cheek.
to make a mark to make a large mark on something, which is difficult to remove: · The blackberry juice had stained their clothes and fingers.· She hoped the blood from the cut on her arm would not stain her blouse.
to damage the surface of something by making a mark on it: · Put the lid on your pen so it doesn't mark the tablecloth.
to make a mark or stain on something, often without realizing you have done this: leave a mark/leave a stain on: · The children walked through the kitchen in their boots, leaving muddy marks on the floor.· Builders' sand leaves an orange stain on paths.
to damage the reputation of someone or something · If a representative gets drunk at a convention, it may harm their firm's reputation.· Sabine was completely loyal to you. She would never do anything to damage your reputation.
to give a group or place a bad reputation by behaving in an unacceptable way: · Students who are rude and scruffy give the school a bad name.· The regular brawling and violence in the bar had given it a bad name.· He was the type of person that gives insurance salesmen a bad name.
formal to damage the reputation of the organization that you work for or the job that you do by doing something bad or illegal - use this especially in legal or official contexts: · This is exactly the kind of incident that brings international companies into disrepute.· The officers were charged with bringing the police force into disrepute.
to make people stop trusting or believing in someone or something: · There was a plot by certain members of the opposition to discredit the government.· The old leaders were discredited by the massive defeats at Verdun and Flanders.· Through your selfishness, you have brought discredit on yourself and your whole family.
a cruel and unfair attack on someone's character: · All too often politicians discredit themselves by engaging in character assassination.
something that harms someone's character, reputation etc in someone's opinion: a slur/stain on somebody's character/reputation etc: · Baker accused the press of casting a slur on his reputation.· He was discharged from the army without a stain on his character.
an attempt to damage the reputation of a political opponent by secretly spreading false ideas about them, for example by telling a newspaper that they have done bad or dishonest things: · Kingsley denies all the rumours, saying he's the victim of a vicious smear campaign.smear campaign/whispering campaign against: · Allegations of instability, untrustworthiness and lack of political judgement - all these were part of the whispering campaign against her.
WORD SETSbasketry, nounbatik, nouncabinet-maker, nouncarpenter, nouncarpentry, nouncooper, nouncraft, nouncraft, verbcraftsmanship, nouncraftswoman, nounlathe, nounloom, nounpokerwork, nounraffia, nounsaddler, nounsaddlery, nounstain, verbstain, nountie-dye, verbturner, nounvarnish, verbveneer, nounveneered, adjectiveweave, verbweave, nounweaver, nounwhittle, verbwoodcarving, nounwoodwork, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYADJECTIVES/NOUN + stain The wine had left a permanent mark on the tablecloth. shock-resistant rubber a new washing powder that will shift any stain
· How can I get coffee stains out of a cotton tablecloth?
· There was a brown stain on the bedroom ceiling.
(=one that is hard to remove)· Lighter fuel can be used to remove more stubborn stains.
verbs (also shift a stain informal)· He was trying to remove a stain from his jacket.· Fruit juice stains can be hard to shift.
(also get rid of a stain) (=remove it)· You’ll never get that stain out.
· She didn’t want to get a stain on her new dress.
· She wiped the soup off her blouse, but it left a stain.
· A dark stain spread over the grey carpet.
stain + NOUN (=a special liquid for removing stains)
· Here are a few quick tips for stain removal.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=a mark left by coffee or a coffee cup)· The table was covered in coffee stains.
(=glass of different colours used in windows)· He designed the stained glass windows of Coventry Cathedral.
(=marks on clothing caused by grass)· It's going to be difficult to get the grass stains out of these trousers.
The wine had left a permanent mark on the tablecloth. shock-resistant rubber a new washing powder that will shift any stain (=made of pieces of coloured glass)· The church has fine medieval stained glass windows.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Dead fish formed glittering patches of colour against the dark water stain.· Her dress is pushed up above her hips, there is a dark stain between her legs.· There were rows of crumpled rags with dark stains.· A dark stain was discernible running intermittently from the door to the bottom of the stairs.· By the door, dark stains on the wall and the floor.· A dark stain spread over the grey patterned carpet.· No one noticed the dark stain of blood that spread from the tip of a razor sharp stiletto knife in his coat pocket.· There was a dark stain around the crotch of the trousers.
· One of the glasses had fallen on to its side and a red stain had spread from it on to the tablecloth.· Years later, when the tower was refurbished with local stone, mysterious red stains began appearing on the walls.· She could feel the red stain crawl up her neck as she caught his drift.· Even so, Viktor had seen the red stain spreading amongst the bright colours of the makeshift shroud.· You've got a huge red stain all down the back of your shorts.· One was splattered with red stains.· She looked at the red wine stain on his trousers and felt tears pricking her eyes.· The sun left a red stain behind as it retreated below the horizon.
NOUN· Suzy walked into the lounge and switched on a table-lamp whose shade was spotted by a coffee stain.· This time his shirt bore a long, teardrop shaped coffee stain.
· Port wine stains are heterogeneous, and responses to different lasers vary considerably.· She looked at the red wine stain on his trousers and felt tears pricking her eyes.
VERB· Builders' sand leaves an orange stain.· Damaging headlines tend to leave a permanent stain.· The massacre has left an indelible stain on the name of Clan Campbell.· And worse, something which will leave a stain on me.
· It took me a long time to remove the stain.· Washing white is a longer process of removing the dirt and stains.· Lighter fuel can be used to remove more stubborn stains.· These are added to remove stains and oxidise matter thus assisting in the cleaning process.
· The police sent in the mallet to see if the stains on it are human blood.· That one over there, she can see the mud stains on my back and the crushed jute leaves on my clothes.· Even so, Viktor had seen the red stain spreading amongst the bright colours of the makeshift shroud.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[countable] a mark that is difficult to remove, especially one made by a liquid such as blood, coffee, or inkstain on- Buy him eine kleine Knackwurst and toddle home without a stain on your character.
- Duran dominated Leonard physically that night, but five months later the New Orleans farce put a huge stain on his reputation.
- Robert Lopez is released without a stain on his character.
- The massacre has left an indelible stain on the name of Clan Campbell.
- Whatever the outcome, he not unnaturally regarded his time in gaol as a stigma, as a stain on his character.
- If they are undamaged remove the polish with nail varnish remover.
There was a dark red stain on the carpet.remove/get rid of a stain White vinegar is great for removing stains.wine/coffee/blood etc stain How do you get wine stains out of a tablecloth?stubborn stains (=ones that are very difficult to remove)► see thesaurus at mark2[countable, uncountable] a special liquid that you use to change the colour of something, especially wood3stain on somebody’s character/name/reputation etc something that damages the good opinion that people have about someoneCOLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + staina wine/coffee/blood etc stain· How can I get coffee stains out of a cotton tablecloth?a red/brown/dark etc stain· There was a brown stain on the bedroom ceiling.a stubborn stain (=one that is hard to remove)· Lighter fuel can be used to remove more stubborn stains.verbsremove a stain (also shift a stain informal)· He was trying to remove a stain from his jacket.· Fruit juice stains can be hard to shift.get a stain out (also get rid of a stain) (=remove it)· You’ll never get that stain out.get a stain on something· She didn’t want to get a stain on her new dress.something leaves a stain· She wiped the soup off her blouse, but it left a stain.a stain spreads· A dark stain spread over the grey carpet.stain + NOUNstain remover (=a special liquid for removing stains)stain removal· Here are a few quick tips for stain removal.