stained

UK: /ˈsteɪnd/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

stain /steɪn/   n. 

1. a mark caused by foreign matter on a material:
   [countable] a bright blue stain on his shirt.
2. [countable] a cause of disgrace or dishonor.
3. a dye made into a solution for coloring woods, textiles, etc.:
   [uncountable] Try using stain on the rocking chair.
   [countable] several wood stains to choose from: red, dark brown, or light brown.

v. 

4. to (cause to) become discolored, as by having spots: [~ + object]
   The blood stained his shirt.
   [no object]
   The white rug will stain too easily.
5. to color or dye (wood, cloth, etc.):
   [~ + object] I stained the old rocking chair and made it look like new.
6. to bring disgrace or dishonor upon:
   [~ + object] Although the charges were never proven, his reputation was stained forever.

stain•less, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stain (stān),  n. 

1. a discoloration produced by foreign matter having penetrated into or chemically reacted with a material;
   a spot not easily removed.
2. a natural spot or patch of color different from that of the basic color, as on the body of an animal.
3. a cause of reproach;
   stigma;
   blemish:
   a stain on one's reputation.
4. coloration produced by a dye that penetrates a substance, as wood.
5. a dye made into a solution for coloring woods, textiles, etc.
6. Optics a reagent or dye used in treating a specimen for microscopic examination.

v.t. 

7. to discolor with spots or streaks of foreign matter.
8. to bring reproach or dishonor upon;
   blemish.
9. to sully with guilt or infamy;
   corrupt.
10. to color or dye (wood, cloth, etc.) by any of various processes that change or react with the substance chemically.
11. to color with something that penetrates the substance.
12. Laboratory, Optics to treat (a microscopic specimen) with some reagent or dye in order to color the whole or parts and so give distinctness, contrast of tissues, etc.

v.i. 

13. to produce a stain.
14. to become stained;
    take a stain:
    This fabric stains easily.

• Old Norse steina to paint; in some senses aphetic form of distain
• Middle English steynen 1350–1400

stain′a•ble, adj. 
stain′a•bil′i•ty, stain′a•ble•ness, n. 
stain′a•bly, adv. 
stain′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1, 3. mark, imperfection, blot.
• 3. taint.
• 7. spot, streak, soil, dirty.
• 8. sully, taint, tarnish, disgrace, dishonor, debase, defile, contaminate, pollute.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stain / steɪn/ verb (mainly tr)

1. to mark or discolour with patches of something that dirties
2. to dye with a penetrating dyestuff or pigment
3. to bring disgrace or shame on: to stain someone's honour
4. to colour (specimens) for microscopic study by treatment with a dye or similar reagent
5. (intransitive) to produce indelible marks or discoloration: does ink stain?

noun

1. a spot, mark, or discoloration
2. a moral taint; blemish or slur
3. a dye or similar reagent, used to colour specimens for microscopic study
4. a solution or liquid used to penetrate the surface of a material, esp wood, and impart a rich colour without covering up the surface or grain
5. any dye that is made into a solution and used to colour textiles and hides

Etymology: 14th Century steynen (vb), shortened from disteynen to remove colour from, from Old French desteindre to discolour, from des- dis-¹ + teindre, from Latin tingere to tinge

ˈstainable adjective

ˌstainaˈbility noun

ˈstainer noun