stain

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a soiled or discolored appearance

   the wine left a dark stain

2. 2
   verb

   produce or leave stains

   Red wine stains the table cloth

3. 3
   noun

   A substance used to soak into a surface and colour it.

   The wood will darken whether it is stained or not—the main function of a stain is to enhance the wood's natural color and emphasize its grain.

4. 4
   verb

   To discolor, as by spilling or other contact with a fluid or substance.

   to stain the hand with dye

5. 5
   verb

   To taint or tarnish someone's character or reputation

   of Honour void, Of Innocence, of Faith, of Puritie, Our wonted Ornaments now soild and staind

6. 6
   verb

   To coat a surface with a stain

   to stain wood with acids, coloured washes, paint rubbed in, etc.

7. 7
   verb

   To cause to seem inferior or soiled by comparison.

   She stains the ripest virgins of her age.

8. 8
   noun

   an act that brings discredit to the person who does it

Etymology

From Middle English steinen, steynen (“to stain, colour, paint”), of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse steina (“to stain, colour, paint”), from steinn (“stone, mineral blue, colour, stain”), from Proto-Norse ᛊᛏᚨᛁᚾᚨᛉ (stainaʀ), from Proto-Germanic *stainaz (“stone”), from Proto-Indo-European *steyh₂- (“to stiffen”). Cognate with Old English stān (“stone”). More at stone. Replaced native Middle English wem (“spot, blemish, stain”), from Old English wamm (“spot, stain”). In some senses, influenced by unrelated Middle English disteynen (“to discolor, remove the colour from"; literally, "de-col…