stained; staining; stains
1
: to suffuse with color
3
a
: taint sense 3
a conscience stained with guilt
b
: to bring discredit on
the scandal stained his reputation
4
: to color (something, such as wood, glass, or cloth) by processes affecting chemically or otherwise the material itself
: to receive a stain
1
a
: a soiled or discolored spot
b
: a natural spot of color contrasting with the ground
2
: a taint of guilt : stigma
3
: a preparation (as of dye or pigment) used in staining: such as
a
: a dye or pigment capable of penetrating the pores of wood
b
: a dye or mixture of dyes used in microscopy to make visible minute and transparent structures, to differentiate tissue elements, or to produce specific chemical reactions
Synonyms
Examples of stain in a Sentence
Verb
The red wine stained the carpet.
He stained the wood a dark cherry color.
The accusations stained his reputation.
Noun
There's a juice stain on the floor.
She has a stain on her shirt.
Will those grass stains wash out?
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024
A number of the belongings appeared to be stained with blood.
—Tim Madigan, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Megan Schaltegger, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
She was surrounded by three-foot diameter paper murals of Disney scenes attached to the wall with sticky putty that left dime-sized oil stains for months.
—Heather M. Jones, Parents, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stain 
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Verb
Sometimes, traffickers stain ivory to look like wood or coat it in chocolate to make it through inspections.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024
A number of the belongings appeared to be stained with blood.
—Tim Madigan, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Noun
Another person shared that their Hoover has worked like a charm for years and is a game changer for new and old pet stains.
—Megan Schaltegger, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
She was surrounded by three-foot diameter paper murals of Disney scenes attached to the wall with sticky putty that left dime-sized oil stains for months.
—Heather M. Jones, Parents, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stain
Articles Related to stain
Dictionary Entries Near stain
Cite this Entry
“Stain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stain. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stain
1 of 2 verb1
: to soil or discolor especially in spots
2
: to give color to (as by dyeing) : tinge
3
a
: corrupt entry 1 sense 1
a fine mind stained by jealousy
b
: disgrace entry 1
the scandal stained his reputation
stainer
noun
stain
2 of 2 noun1
: a soiled or discolored spot
2
: a mark of guilt or disgrace
bore the stain of their father's crime
3
: something (as a dye) used in staining: as
a
: a dye or pigment capable of penetrating the pores of wood
b
: a dye or mixture of dyes used in microscopy to make very small and transparent structures visible, to color tissue elements so that they can be told apart, and to produce specific chemical reactions
stainless
adjective
ˈstān-ləs
Medical Definition
stain
1 of 2 transitive verb1
: to cause discoloration of
smoking stains teeth
2
: to color by processes affecting chemically or otherwise the material itself
stain bacteria with a fluorescent dye
: to receive a stain
stain
2 of 2 noun1
: a discolored spot or area (as on the skin or teeth) see port-wine stain
2
: a preparation (as of dye or pigment) used in staining something
especially
: a dye or mixture of dyes used in microscopy to make minute and transparent structures visible, to differentiate tissue elements, or to produce specific chemical reactions
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