stain
stain Lexical Profile
stain Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A colored patch or dirty mark that is difficult to remove.
"She tried frantically to scrub the red wine stain out of the white carpet before the guests arrived."
A penetrating dye or chemical used to color materials such as wood, or biological specimens for microscopic examination.
"The carpenter applied a dark walnut stain to the freshly sanded dining table."
A severe blemish on a person's character, reputation, or moral standing.
"The bribery scandal left a permanent stain on the politician's otherwise impressive legacy."
• verb
To leave a discolored mark on something that is difficult to clean or remove.
"Be careful eating those blueberries, as their juice will easily stain your clothes."
To artificially color a material such as wood, glass, or biological tissue using a dye or penetrating pigment.
"The researchers had to stain the cellular tissue samples to make the nuclei visible under the microscope."
To damage or bring disgrace upon someone's reputation or character.
"He worried that the false accusations would irreparably stain his family's good name."
• Rhymes for stain
Word Origin & Etymology
Late Middle English: partly from Old Norse 'steina' (to paint), and partly an aphetic form of Old French 'desteindre' (to remove color), originating from Latin 'dis-' (reversal) + 'tingere' (to dye).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.