stain

[steyn] /steɪn/
noun
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.
a reagent or dye used in treating a specimen for microscopic examination.
verb (used with object)
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.
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.
verb (used without object)
13.
to produce a stain.
14.
to become stained; take a stain:
This fabric stains easily.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English steynen < Old Norse steina to paint; in some senses aphetic form of distain
Related forms
stainable, adjective
stainability, stainableness, noun
stainably, adverb
stainer, noun
destainer, noun
nonstainable, adjective
nonstainer, noun
nonstaining, adjective
restain, verb
understain, noun
understain, verb (used with object)
well-stained, adjective
Synonyms
1, 3. mark, imperfection, blot. 3. taint. 7. spot, streak, soil, dirty. 8. sully, taint, tarnish, disgrace, dishonor, debase, defile, contaminate, pollute.
Examples from the web for stain
  • A sodium hydroxide solution will leave a yellow stain on fabric and paper.
  • In carpets nylon tends to stain easily because it possesses dye sites on the fiber.
  • These dye sites need to be filled in order to give nylon any type of stain resistance.
  • Sin is not seen as a stain on the soul, but rather a mistake that needs correction.
British Dictionary definitions for stain

stain

/steɪn/
verb (mainly transitive)
1.
to mark or discolour with patches of something that dirties: the dress was stained with coffee
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
6.
a spot, mark, or discoloration
7.
a moral taint; blemish or slur
8.
a dye or similar reagent, used to colour specimens for microscopic study
9.
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
10.
any dye that is made into a solution and used to colour textiles and hides
Derived Forms
stainable, adjective
stainability, noun
stainer, noun
Word Origin
C14 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
Word Origin and History for stain
v.

late 14c., probably representing a merger of Old Norse steina "to paint" and a shortened form of Middle English disteynen "to discolor or stain," from Old French desteign-, stem of desteindre "to remove the color," from des- (from Latin dis- "remove;" see dis-) + Old French teindre "to dye," from Latin tingere (see tincture). Related: Stained; staining. Stained glass is attested from 1791.

n.

1560s, from stain (v.).

stain in Medicine

stain (stān)
n.

  1. A reagent or dye that is used for staining microscopic specimens.

  2. A procedure in which a dye or a combination of dyes and reagents is used to color the constituents of cells and tissues.

v. stained, stain·ing, stains
To treat specimens for the microscope with a reagent or dye that makes visible certain structures without affecting others.