Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense stains, present participle staining, past tense, past participle stained
1. countable noun
A stain is a mark on something that is difficult to remove.
Remove stains by soaking in a mild solution of bleach.
...a black stain.
Synonyms: mark, spot, blot, blemish More Synonyms of stain
2. verb
If a liquid stains something, the thing becomes coloured or marked by the liquid.
Some foods can stain the teeth, as of course can smoking. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: mark, soil, discolour, dirty More Synonyms of stain
stainedadjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
His clothing was stained with mud.
-stainedcombining form
...ink-stained fingers.
More Synonyms of stain
stain in British English
(steɪn)
verb(mainly tr)
1.
to mark or discolour with patches of something that dirties
the dress was stained with coffee
2.
to dye with a penetrating dyestuff or pigment
3.
to bring disgrace or shame on
to stain someone's honour
4.
to colour (specimens) for microscopic study by treatment with a dye or similar reagent
5. (intransitive)
to produce indelible marks or discoloration
does ink stain?
noun
6.
a spot, mark, or discoloration
7.
a moral taint; blemish or slur
8.
a dye or similar reagent, used to colour specimens for microscopic study
9.
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
10.
any dye that is made into a solution and used to colour textiles and hides
Derived forms
stainable (ˈstainable)
adjective
stainability (ˌstainaˈbility)
noun
stainer (ˈstainer)
noun
Word origin
C14 steynen (vb), shortened from disteynen to remove colour from, from Old French desteindre to discolour, from des-dis-1 + teindre, from Latin tingere to tinge
stain in American English
(steɪn)
verb transitive
1.
to spoil the appearance of by patches or streaks of color or dirt; discolor; spot
2.
to bring shame upon (someone's character, reputation, etc.); taint; disgrace; dishonor
3.
to change the appearance of (wood, glass, etc.) by applying a dye, pigment, etc.
4.
to treat (material for microscopic study) with a coloring matter that facilitates study, as by making transparent parts visible or by producing a different effect upon different structures or tissues
verb intransitive
5.
to impart or take a color or stain
noun
6.
a discoloration, streak, or spot resulting from staining
7.
a moral blemish; dishonor; guilt; taint
a stain on one's reputation
8.
a substance used to impart color in staining
; specif.,
a.
a dye or pigment in solution, esp. one that penetrates a wood surface
b.
a dye used to stain material for microscopic study
Derived forms
stainable (ˈstainable)
adjective
stainer (ˈstainer)
noun
Word origin
ME stainen, aphetic < disteinen, distain: sense and form infl. by ON steinn, color, lit., stone (hence, mineral pigment)
Examples of 'stain' in a sentence
stain
There were coffee stains and cracks on the walls.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
These can be stained different colours to personalise each house.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Try using lemon juice to remove tobacco stains from your fingers.
Laszlo, John (MD) Understanding Cancer (1987)
They soar up into the stained glass atrium.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It has stained glass windows and high ceilings.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Was it an accident with a pot of wood stain?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
His eureka moment came when he realised that stains and dyes had similar properties.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The panelling can be stained in different colours to personalise each home.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They remove plaque and stains and will return teeth to their original pearly whiteness.
Guyton, Anita The Natural Beauty Book - cruelty-free cosmetics to make at home (1991)
The door he had left through was in the outer wall underneath a stained glass window.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Remove stains with a mild solution of household bleach.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She discovered in retirement a flair for working in stained glass.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Thin specimens are placed on a glass slide and may be stained with dyes which show up particular structures.
McCahill, T. A. Biology Basic Facts (1982)
There's a coffee stain on her dress and a sleepy naughtiness to her demeanour.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They can also be stained by coffee, red wine and smoking.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Much of it is bare wood, stained and scarred.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Let's hope no one notices the coffee stain on my shorts.
The Sun (2010)
He picks out the colour of stained glass windows glowing in sunlight, the richness of gilt and the glint on brass chandeliers.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The red liquid stained the stone I had picked from a nearby river.
Carlos Acosta No Way Home: A Cuban Dancer's Tale (2007)
If your fence begins to look a little weathered, consider giving it a coat of paint or wood stain to bring it back to life.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Although this has narrowed choice, these bank advisers had become tainted with the stain of past mis-selling.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Though more expensive, dry cleaning is the best course of action if you have a difficult stain on an expensive fabric or piece of soft furnishing.
Churchill, Jane (ed.) Collins Complete Books of Soft Furnishings (1993)
But to promise you that I'll succeed would be a stain upon my honour and a waste of breath both.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
In other languages
stain
British English: stain /steɪn/ NOUN
A stain is a mark on something that is difficult to remove.
...grass stains.
American English: stain
Arabic: بُقْعَة
Brazilian Portuguese: mancha
Chinese: 污迹
Croatian: mrlja
Czech: skvrna
Danish: plet
Dutch: smet
European Spanish: mancha
Finnish: tahra
French: tache
German: Fleck
Greek: κηλίδα
Italian: macchia
Japanese: しみ
Korean: 얼룩
Norwegian: flekk
Polish: plama
European Portuguese: mancha
Romanian: pată
Russian: пятно
Latin American Spanish: mancha
Swedish: fläck
Thai: รอยเปื้อน
Turkish: leke
Ukrainian: пляма
Vietnamese: vết bẩn
British English: stain /steɪn/ VERB
If a liquid stains something, the thing becomes coloured or marked by the liquid.
Some foods can stain the teeth.
American English: stain
Arabic: يُلَطِّخُ
Brazilian Portuguese: manchar
Chinese: 玷污
Croatian: zaprljati
Czech: poskvrnit
Danish: plette
Dutch: vlekken
European Spanish: manchar
Finnish: tahria
French: tacher
German: beflecken
Greek: κηλιδώνω
Italian: macchiare
Japanese: しみがつく
Korean: 얼룩지게 하다
Norwegian: tilsmusse
Polish: poplamić
European Portuguese: manchar
Romanian: a păta
Russian: пачкать(ся)
Latin American Spanish: manchar
Swedish: fläcka ner
Thai: เป็นคราบ
Turkish: lekelemek
Ukrainian: фарбувати
Vietnamese: làm ố màu
All related terms of 'stain'
ink stain
a mark made by ink
blue stain
a bluish discoloration of sapwood caused by growth of fungi
stain remover
a substance designed for removing stains or dirty marks, as from clothes, carpets , etc
stain resistant
(of a fabric, carpet , surface, etc) designed or having added chemicals in order to be resistant to being stained or marked
port wine stain
a type of haemangioma , seen as a purplish birthmark , often large and on the face or neck
Chinese translation of 'stain'
stain
(steɪn)
n(c)
(= mark) 污迹(跡) (wūjì) (处, chù)
vt
(= mark) 沾污 (zhānwū)
[wood]给(給) ... 染色 (gěi ... rǎnsè)
1 (noun)
Definition
a mark or discoloration that is not easily removed
a black stain
Synonyms
mark
The dogs rub against the walls and make dirty marks.
spot
The floorboards were covered with white spots.
blot
a blot on the reputation of the architectural profession
blemish
the blemish on his face
discoloration
She has a discoloration just below the lip.
smirch
2 (noun)
Definition
an incident in someone's life that has damaged his or her reputation
a stain on the honour of its war dead
Synonyms
stigma
Even in a recession there's still a stigma attached to being out of work.
shame
I don't want to bring shame on the family name.
disgrace
the disgrace of having claimed a prize I didn't deserve
slur
yet another slur on the integrity of the police
reproach
The shootings were a reproach to all of us.
blemish
the one blemish on an otherwise resounding success
dishonour
You have brought dishonour on a fine and venerable institution.
infamy
one of the greatest acts of infamy in history
blot on the escutcheon
3 (noun)
Definition
a liquid used to penetrate the surface of a material, such as wood, and colour it without covering up the surface or grain
Give each surface two coats of stain.
Synonyms
dye
bottles of hair dye
colour
the latest range of lip and eye colours
tint
You've had a tint on your hair.
1 (verb)
Definition
to discolour (something) with marks that are not easily removed
Some foods can stain teeth, as of course can tea and coffee.
Synonyms
mark
How do you stop the horses marking the turf?
soil
Young people don't want to do things that soil their hands.
discolour
Test first as this cleaner may discolour the fabric.
dirty
He was afraid the dog's hairs might dirty the seats.
tarnish
It never rusts or tarnishes.
tinge
The living room was tinged yellow by the sunlight.
spot
a brown shoe spotted with paint
blot
Only one memorable slip-up has blotted his career.
blemish
She wasn't about to blemish that pristine record.
Nobody wanted to blemish his reputation at that time.
smirch
2 (verb)
Definition
to dye (something) with a lasting pigment
a technique biologists use to stain proteins
Synonyms
dye
The man spun and dyed the wool.
colour
Saffron can be used to colour the rice yellow.
tint
Eyebrows can be tinted with the same dye.
3 (verb)
It was too late. Their reputation had been stained.
Synonyms
disgrace
These soldiers have disgraced their regiment.
taint
Rancid oil will taint the flavour.
blacken
They're trying to blacken our name.
sully
I felt loath to sully the gleaming brass knocker by handling it.
corrupt
contaminate
The fishing waters have been contaminated with toxic wastes.
deprave
defile
He felt his father's memory had been defiled by the article.
besmirch
Lawyers can besmirch reputations.
drag through the mud
Additional synonyms
in the sense of besmirch
Definition
to tarnish (someone's name or reputation)
Lawyers can besmirch reputations.
Synonyms
tarnish,
damage,
soil,
stain,
smear,
taint,
blacken,
daub,
slander,
sully,
dishonour,
defame,
drag through the mud,
smirch
in the sense of blacken
Definition
to damage (someone's reputation)
They're trying to blacken our name.
Synonyms
discredit,
stain,
disgrace,
smear,
knock (informal),
degrade,
rubbish (informal),
taint,
tarnish,
censure,
slur,
slag (off) (slang),
malign,
reproach,
denigrate,
disparage,
decry,
vilify,
slander,
sully,
dishonour,
defile,
defame,
bad-mouth (slang),
traduce,
bring into disrepute,
smirch,
calumniate
in the sense of blemish
Definition
a defect
the blemish on his face
Synonyms
mark,
line,
spot,
scratch,
bruise,
scar,
blur,
defect,
flaw,
blot,
smudge,
imperfection,
speck,
blotch,
disfigurement,
pock,
smirch
Synonyms of 'stain'
stain
Explore 'stain' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blemish
Definition
a defect
the one blemish on an otherwise resounding success
Synonyms
defect,
fault,
weakness,
stain,
disgrace,
deficiency,
shortcoming,
taint,
inadequacy,
dishonour,
demerit
in the sense of blemish
Definition
to spoil or tarnish
She wasn't about to blemish that pristine record.Nobody wanted to blemish his reputation at that time.
Synonyms
dishonour,
mark,
damage,
spot,
injure,
ruin,
mar,
spoil,
stain,
blur,
disgrace,
impair,
taint,
tarnish,
blot,
smudge,
disfigure,
sully,
deface,
blotch,
besmirch,
smirch
in the sense of blot
Definition
a stain on one's character
a blot on the reputation of the architectural profession
Synonyms
disgrace,
spot,
fault,
stain,
scar,
defect,
flaw,
taint,
blemish,
demerit,
smirch,
blot on your escutcheon
in the sense of blot
Definition
to cause a blemish in or on
Only one memorable slip-up has blotted his career.
Synonyms
stain,
mark,
spot,
spoil,
disgrace,
tarnish,
disfigure,
sully,
smirch
in the sense of colour
Definition
a substance, such as a dye, that gives colour
the latest range of lip and eye colours
Synonyms
paint,
stain,
dye,
tint,
pigment,
tincture,
coloration,
colourwash,
colorant
in the sense of colour
Definition
to apply colour to (something)
Saffron can be used to colour the rice yellow.
Synonyms
tint,
stain,
dye
in the sense of contaminate
Definition
to make impure
The fishing waters have been contaminated with toxic wastes.
Synonyms
pollute,
infect,
stain,
corrupt,
taint,
sully,
defile,
adulterate,
befoul,
soil
in the sense of corrupt
Synonyms
contaminate,
infect,
spoil,
taint,
defile,
adulterate,
vitiate,
putrefy (formal)
in the sense of defile
Definition
to make foul or dirty
He felt his father's memory had been defiled by the article.
Synonyms
degrade,
stain,
disgrace,
sully,
debase,
dishonour,
besmirch,
smirch
in the sense of dirty
Definition
to make dirty
He was afraid the dog's hairs might dirty the seats.
Synonyms
soil,
foul,
stain,
spoil,
smear,
muddy,
pollute,
blacken,
mess up,
smudge,
sully,
defile,
smirch,
begrime
Additional synonyms
in the sense of discoloration
She has a discoloration just below the lip.
Synonyms
stain,
mark,
spot,
patch,
blot,
blemish,
blotch,
splotch
in the sense of discolour
Definition
to change in colour
Test first as this cleaner may discolour the fabric.
Synonyms
mark,
soil,
mar,
fade,
stain,
streak,
tinge
in the sense of dishonour
Definition
a state of shame or disgrace
You have brought dishonour on a fine and venerable institution.
Synonyms
disgrace,
scandal,
shame,
discredit,
degradation,
disrepute,
reproach,
ignominy,
infamy,
opprobrium,
odium (formal),
disfavour,
abasement,
obloquy
in the sense of infamy
Definition
the state of being infamous
one of the greatest acts of infamy in history
Synonyms
notoriety,
scandal,
shame,
disgrace,
atrocity,
discredit,
stigma,
disrepute,
ignominy,
dishonour,
abomination,
opprobrium,
villainy,
odium (formal),
outrageousness,
obloquy
in the sense of reproach
The shootings were a reproach to all of us.
Synonyms
disgrace,
shame,
slight,
stain,
discredit,
stigma,
slur,
disrepute,
blemish,
indignity,
ignominy,
dishonour
in the sense of shame
Definition
loss of respect
I don't want to bring shame on the family name.
Synonyms
disgrace,
scandal,
discredit,
contempt,
smear,
degradation,
disrepute,
reproach,
derision,
dishonour,
infamy,
opprobrium,
odium (formal),
ill repute,
obloquy
in the sense of slur
Definition
an insulting remark intended to damage someone's reputation
yet another slur on the integrity of the police
Synonyms
insult,
stain,
smear,
stigma,
disgrace,
discredit,
blot,
affront,
innuendo,
calumny,
insinuation,
aspersion,
blot on your escutcheon
in the sense of soil
Definition
to make or become dirty or stained
Young people don't want to do things that soil their hands.
Synonyms
dirty,
foul,
stain,
smear,
muddy,
pollute,
tarnish,
spatter,
sully,
defile,
besmirch,
smirch,
maculate (literary),
bedraggle,
befoul,
begrime
in the sense of spot
Definition
a small mark on a surface, which has a different colour or texture from its surroundings
The floorboards were covered with white spots.
Synonyms
mark,
stain,
speck,
scar,
flaw,
taint,
blot,
smudge,
blemish,
daub,
speckle,
blotch,
discoloration
in the sense of spot
Definition
to put stains or spots on (something)
a brown shoe spotted with paint
Synonyms
mark,
stain,
dot,
soil,
dirty,
scar,
taint,
tarnish,
blot,
fleck,
spatter,
sully,
speckle,
besmirch,
splodge,
splotch,
mottle,
smirch
Additional synonyms
in the sense of sully
Definition
to spoil or make dirty
I felt loath to sully the gleaming brass knocker by handling it.
Synonyms
defile,
dirty,
stain,
spot,
spoil,
contaminate,
pollute,
taint,
tarnish,
blemish,
befoul
in the sense of taint
Definition
to spoil or contaminate by an undesirable quality
Rancid oil will taint the flavour.
Synonyms
spoil,
ruin,
contaminate,
damage,
soil,
dirty,
poison,
foul,
infect,
stain,
corrupt,
smear,
muddy,
pollute,
blight,
tarnish,
blot,
blemish,
sully,
defile,
adulterate,
besmirch,
vitiate,
smirch
in the sense of tarnish
Definition
(of a metal) to become stained or less bright, esp. by exposure to air or moisture
It never rusts or tarnishes.
Synonyms
stain,
dull,
discolour,
spot,
soil,
dim,
rust,
darken,
blot,
blemish,
befoul,
lose lustre or shine
in the sense of tinge
Definition
to colour or tint faintly
The living room was tinged yellow by the sunlight.