tar|nish

tar|nish
tar|nish «TAHR nihsh», verb, noun.
–v.t.
1. to dull the luster or brightness of: »

Salt will tarnish silver.

SYNONYM(S): blacken.
2. Figurative. to bring disgrace upon (a reputation, one's honor, or the like); sully; taint: »

The expedition's triumph was somewhat tarnished by dissension and subsequent recrimination (Atlantic).

–v.i.
1. to lose luster or brightness; grow dull or dim; discolor: »

The brass doorknob tarnished.

SYNONYM(S): blacken.
2. Figurative. to grow less appealing; become uninviting; pall; fade.
–n.
1. the fact or condition of being tarnished; loss of luster or brightness.
2. a discolored coating, especially on silver.
3. Figurative. any unattractiveness or blemish; blot: »

The Savoy operas are still a joy, no tarnish on them (Punch).

╂[< Middle French terniss-, stem of ternir < terne dark, dull, perhaps < Germanic (compare Middle High German tarnen, ternen darken)]
–tar´nish|a|ble, adjective.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • tar´nish|a|ble — tar|nish «TAHR nihsh», verb, noun. –v.t. 1. to dull the luster or brightness of: »Salt will tarnish silver. SYNONYM(S): blacken. 2. Figurative. to bring disgrace upon (a reputation, one s honor, or the like); sully; taint: »The expedition s… …   Useful english dictionary

  • nish — bur·nish·er; cho·pun·nish; clan·nish; cor·nish·man; don·nish; dun·nish; fur·nish·er; fur·nish·ment; gar·nish·able; gar·nish·er; gar·nish·ment; gar·nish·ry; gut·nish; hun·nish; man·nish; man·nish·ness; nun·nish; roy·nish; tan·nish; tar·nish·able;… …   English syllables

  • tar — ac·e·tar·i·ous; ac·ro·tar·si·al; ac·ro·tar·si·um; acu·ti·plan·tar; al·mu·can·tar; al·pha·be·tar·i·an; al·tar; al·tar·age; al·tar·ist; an·i·mal·i·tar·i·an·ism; an·tiq·ui·tar·i·an; ar·ma·men·tar·i·um; as·tar·te; at·tar; au·tar·chic;… …   English syllables

  • tarnish — tar·nish …   English syllables

  • tarnish — tar•nish [[t]ˈtɑr nɪʃ[/t]] v. t. 1) mel to dull the luster of or discolor (a metallic surface), esp. by oxidation 2) to diminish or destroy the purity of; sully: to tarnish a reputation[/ex] 3) to become tarnished 4) mel a tarnished coating 5)… …   From formal English to slang

  • tarnish — tar|nish [ tarnıʃ ] verb 1. ) transitive if something tarnishes your reputation or image, it makes people have a worse opinion of you than they did before 2. ) intransitive or transitive if metal tarnishes, or something tarnishes it, it starts to …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • tarnishable — tar·nish·able …   English syllables

  • able — ab·sorb·able; ac·count·able; ac·tion·able; adapt·able; ad·vance·able; ad·vis·able·ness; al·lege·able; al·ter·able; ami·able·ness; bounce·able; brib·able; bridge·able; buff·able; build·able; burn·able; can·cel·able; change·able; change·able·ness;… …   English syllables

  • Tarnish — Tar nish, v. i. To lose luster; to become dull; as, gilding will tarnish in a foul air. [1913 Webster] Till thy fresh glories, which now shine so bright, Grow stale and tarnish with our daily sight. Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tarnish — Tar nish, n. 1. The quality or state of being tarnished; stain; soil; blemish. [1913 Webster] 2. (Min.) A thin film on the surface of a metal, usually due to a slight alteration of the original color; as, the steel tarnish in columbite. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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