Pronunciation

/steɪn/

Definitions

Noun

• A stain is a mark, discoloration, or blemish that remains on a surface after contact with a substance or as a result of a process, often indicating contamination or damage. For example: “The dress had a stubborn red wine stain.”
• An emotional stain refers to a lasting impression or regret that affects one’s feelings or reputation. For example: “His mistake left a permanent stain on his career.”

Verb

• To stain is to cover or mark something with a colored substance, making it harder to remove or alter its appearance. For example: “She carefully stained the wood furniture with a varnish.”
• To stain something is to leave a mark or impression on it, often metaphorically. For example: “His words stained her innocence.”

Adjective

• A stained item is marked, discolored, or contaminated. For example: “The old carpet was stained with years of dirt and grime.”

Phrases

• “Remove the stain” means to clean or eliminate a mark or discoloration.
• “Prevent stains” refers to taking measures to avoid marks or discolorations.
• “A stain on one’s character” denotes a blemish on someone’s reputation.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The tablecloth was stained with grease from the food.”
• Verb: “I tried to stain the leather jacket a darker color.”
• Adjective: “Her white shirt looked unsightly after a spill.”

Synonyms

• Spot
• Mark
• Discoloration
• Blemish
• Taint
• Deface
• Soil
• Contaminate