stain

1 of 2

verb

stained; staining; stains

transitive verb

1
: to suffuse with color
2
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

intransitive verb

: to receive a stain
stainable adjective
stainer noun

stain

2 of 2

noun

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
stainproof adjective

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
Verb
This mat will work best in areas with low moisture and fewer opportunities to be stained. Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 Unlike some of the other Ugg options that teens love, the waterproof options are really easy to clean and don’t run the risk of staining. Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 13 Mar. 2024 There was the woman dressed in a rainbow sequin top, her white jeans stained with blood from gunshot wounds, including one to her pelvic area. Becky Sullivan, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024 Another of his pieces centers on a near-white near-rectangle that’s stained with hints of pink and blue. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 If your kitchen spoons and spatulas are weathered and stained, consider replacing them with this 11-piece utensil set. Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2024 The carpets were horribly stained, the walls soiled with sickly black mold. Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024 Through specialized machinery, the denim is colored—utilizing a secret formula for the brand’s signature blue—and then stained and sandblasted. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2024 The new mother was blushing with her lips stained in cherry red. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 12 Feb. 2024
Noun
After years of taking hot showers, the mildew stains on the grout became increasingly difficult to remove — until this amazing cleaning tool came into my life. Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 These yarns are durable enough to resist mold, mildew, stains, and UV rays. Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 Using carpet tiles is a smart move with girls who love to do arts and crafts; if there is a permanent stain on one tile, simply replace it. Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2024 The memory foam seat, backrest, and handles also have antimicrobial technology to protect against bacteria, mold, and mildew buildup, which are known to cause unpleasant stains and odors. Sarah Bradley, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2024 The Pink Stuff, The Miracle Cleaning Paste and Multi-Purpose Spray 2-Pack $15.69, was $19.99 Built-up grime or stains are no match for the Pink Stuff. Christopher Murray, Fox News, 9 Mar. 2024 Blood stains where bed bugs have been accidentally crushed. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 More maximalist patterns makes stains less noticeable, while dark colors hide stains that inevitably accumulate over time. Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024 Reappearing stains happen with professional cleaning, too. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English steynen, partly from Anglo-French desteindre to take away the color from & partly of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse steina to paint — more at distain

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of stain was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near stain

Cite this Entry

“Stain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stain. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

stain

1 of 2 verb
1
: 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 noun
1
: 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
ˈstān-ləs
adjective

Medical Definition

stain

1 of 2 transitive verb
1
: 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

intransitive verb

: to receive a stain

stain

2 of 2 noun
1
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on stain

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