stain

noun
UK: /steɪn/
US: /steɪn/

  1. A dirty mark on something that is difficult to remove.

    1. There is a stain on my shirt from the coffee I spilled. [ ] [ ]
    2. The old house had water stains on the ceiling, showing previous leaks. [ ] [ ]

  2. A substance used to change the color of wood or other materials.

    1. I used wood stain to give the table a darker finish. [ ] [ ]
    2. She applied a protective stain to the deck to prevent weather damage. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

blemish tarnish tint mark discoloration dye color
stain verb

  1. To leave a mark on something that is difficult to remove.

    1. The red wine will stain the carpet if you don't clean it up quickly. [ ] [ ]
    2. Be careful not to stain your clothes while you're painting the wall. [ ] [ ]

  2. To change the color of something by using a stain.

    1. I'm going to stain the fence a dark brown color this weekend. [ ] [ ]
    2. The artist decided to stain the glass to create a colorful window. [ ] [ ]

  3. To damage someone's reputation or good name.

    1. The scandal will stain his reputation for years to come. [ ] [ ]
    2. Allegations of corruption stained the politician's public image. [ ] [ ]
stain transitive-verb

  1. To apply a stain to something.

    1. He had to stain the wood to protect it from the elements. [ ] [ ]
    2. The company can stain any surface you need at an affordable price. [ ] [ ]
stain intransitive-verb

  1. To become marked with a stain.

    1. The cloth will stain if you leave the juice on it. [ ] [ ]
    2. This old fabric will stain if you try to bleach it. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "stain" in English means: A dirty mark on something that is difficult to remove., A substance used to change the color of wood or other materials..

The phonetic transcription of "stain" is /steɪn/ in British English and /steɪn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "stain": blemish, tarnish, tint, mark, discoloration, dye, color.

Example usage of "stain": "There is a stain on my shirt from the coffee I spilled.". More examples on the page.