stain´a|ble

stain´a|ble
stain «stayn», verb, noun.
–v.t.
1. to discolor (something); spot; soil: »

The tablecloth is stained where food has been spilled. Let not women's weapons, waterdrops, Stain my man's cheeks (Shakespeare).

2. Figurative. a) o spot by wrongdoing or disgrace (a person's reputation or honor); blemish; dishonor: »

His crimes stained the family honor. But thoughtless follies laid him low, And stain'd his name (Robert Burns).

b) to corrupt morally; taint with guilt or vice; defile.
3. to color or dye: »

She stained the chair green.

4. to color (a microscopic specimen).
–v.i.
1. to cause a stain or discoloration.
2. to take a stain; admit of staining.
–n.
1. a discoloration; soil; spot: »

He has ink stains on his shirt.

2. a natural spot or patch of color different from the background.
3. Figurative. a mark of disgrace; dishonor; stigma: »

His character is without stain. When you know the dream is true And lovely with no flaw nor stain (Robert Graves).

4. a liquid preparation of coloring or dye used especially to color woods and fabrics, by penetrating the pores: »

Paint the table with a brown stain.

5. a dye or pigment used to make visible transparent or very small structures, or to differentiate tissue elements by coloring, for microscopic study: »

... many of the various stains used in microscopic work have a selective effect on bacteria, coloring some species and leaving others more or less unaffected (Fred W. Emerson).

[probably fusion of short form of Middle English distainen (< Old French desteign-, stem of desteindre take out the color, ultimately < Latin dis- off + tingere to dye), and a Scandinavian borrowing (compare Old Icelandic steina to paint)]
stain´a|ble, adjective.
stain´er, noun.
stain´like´, adjective.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • stain´like´ — stain «stayn», verb, noun. –v.t. 1. to discolor (something); spot; soil: »The tablecloth is stained where food has been spilled. Let not women s weapons, waterdrops, Stain my man s cheeks (Shakespeare). 2. Figurative. a) o spot by wrongdoing or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • stain´er — stain «stayn», verb, noun. –v.t. 1. to discolor (something); spot; soil: »The tablecloth is stained where food has been spilled. Let not women s weapons, waterdrops, Stain my man s cheeks (Shakespeare). 2. Figurative. a) o spot by wrongdoing or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • stain — [[t]steɪn[/t]] n. 1) a discoloration produced by foreign matter having penetrated into a material 2) a patch of color different from that of the basic color, as on the body of an animal 3) a cause of reproach; stigma: a stain on one s… …   From formal English to slang

  • unsustainable — un‧su‧stain‧a‧ble [ˌʌnsəˈsteɪnəbl◂] adjective 1. impossible to continue doing for any length of time: • The company s growth strategy proved unsustainable in a slow sales environment. • The banks claim that the cost of running the system has… …   Financial and business terms

  • nonstainable — non•stain′a•ble adj …   From formal English to slang

  • blot — blÉ’t n. stain, blemish; smear, speckle v. stain; absorb with blotter paper …   English contemporary dictionary

  • blotch — blÉ’tʃ n. stain, spot, mark (as in an ink stain) v. cover with large stains …   English contemporary dictionary

  • blotched — blÉ’tʃ n. stain, spot, mark (as in an ink stain) v. cover with large stains …   English contemporary dictionary

  • blotches — blÉ’tʃ n. stain, spot, mark (as in an ink stain) v. cover with large stains …   English contemporary dictionary

  • blotching — blÉ’tʃ n. stain, spot, mark (as in an ink stain) v. cover with large stains …   English contemporary dictionary

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