stain

/steɪn/
verb
  1. To leave a mark or spot on something that is hard to clean.
    • The berries stained her fingers purple.
    • Be careful not to stain the carpet with your coffee.
    • Oil can stain clothing permanently if not treated quickly.
  2. To apply a colored liquid to wood or another surface to change its color.
    • We decided to stain the old table instead of painting it.
    • He stained the wooden bench a deep mahogany color.
    • You should stain the fence to protect it from the weather.
  3. To damage someone's reputation or character.
    • The incident stained the team's reputation for years.
    • The false rumors stained his good name.
    • Her honesty was never stained by scandal.
Synonyms
Antonyms
noun
  1. A mark or spot that is difficult to remove, often made by a colored or dirty substance.
    • She tried to scrub the grass stain out of her jeans.
    • The old carpet had a dark stain near the door.
    • There was a red wine stain on the white tablecloth.
  2. A liquid substance used to change the color of wood or other materials.
    • He applied a dark wood stain to the bookshelf.
    • The stain gave the fence a rich, warm color.
    • We chose a walnut stain for the deck.
  3. Something that damages a person's reputation or character.
    • She felt the accusation was a stain on her honor.
    • The company worked hard to remove the stain from its public image.
    • The scandal left a stain on his political career.
What does "stain" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean