stain
Third Person
stains
Present Participle
staining
Past Tense
stained
Past Participle
stained
1
to create marks or discoloration on a surface, usually by accidentally spilling or allowing a substance to absorb
transitive
- Spilling coffee on the carpet may stain it if not cleaned promptly.
- Certain foods, like berries, have the potential to stain teeth over time.
- Ink from a leaky pen can stain clothing if not treated quickly.
- She accidentally stained her shirt with coffee while rushing to work.
- The red wine spilled on the carpet and stained it permanently.
2
to change the color of something by a liquid dye or chemical
transitive
- She stained the wooden table with a rich mahogany finish to match the decor.
- The painter stained the exterior walls of the house with a warm beige hue.
- To enhance the appearance of the deck, they stained it with a dark walnut color.
- She stained the plain white curtains with a vibrant blue dye for a pop of color.
- He stained the unfinished bookshelf with a cherry wood stain to give it a polished look.
3
to apply a colored substance to a microscopic sample for enhanced visibility under a microscope
transitive
- The biologist stained the tissue sample with eosin to highlight the cellular structures.
- Before examination, the microbiologist stained the bacterial culture with crystal violet.
- To visualize the presence of fungi, the mycologist stained the fungal spores with lactophenol cotton blue.
- The pathologist stained the tissue biopsy with toluidine blue to detect abnormal cells.
- For better contrast, the cytologist stained the cell nucleus with Giemsa stain.
4
to tarnish or blemish the reputation or image of a person, group, or thing
transitive
- The scandalous revelations stained the politician's reputation irreparably.
- The company's unethical practices stained its reputation in the eyes of consumers.
- The allegations of misconduct stained the reputation of the prestigious university.
- The athlete's doping scandal stained his legacy as one of the greatest sports figures of all time.
- A single mistake can stain the reputation of an entire organization.