tarnish
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tar·nish
(tär′nĭsh)v. tar·nished, tar·nish·ing, tar·nish·es
v. tr.
1. To dull the luster of; discolor, especially by exposure to air or dirt: Being in the ground for so long tarnished the old coins.
2.
a. To detract from or spoil: a tasteless meal that tarnished an otherwise pleasant evening.
b. To bring disgrace to; sully: a scandal that tarnished his reputation.
v. intr.
1. To lose luster; become discolored: a metal that tarnishes quickly.
2. To become less enjoyable or estimable: Her admiration for the movie's producer quickly tarnished.
n.
1. The condition of being tarnished: no sign of tarnish on the frame.
2. A film or layer of discoloration on a metal surface caused by corrosion or oxidation.
3. The condition of being disgraced or made less estimable: the tarnish on his reputation.
[Middle English ternishen, from Old French ternir, terniss-, to darken, tarnish, from Frankish *tarnjan; see dher- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
tar′nish·a·ble adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
tarnish
(ˈtɑːnɪʃ)vb
1. to lose or cause to lose the shine, esp by exposure to air or moisture resulting in surface oxidation; discolour: silver tarnishes quickly.
2. to stain or become stained; taint or spoil: a fraud that tarnished his reputation.
n
a tarnished condition, surface, or film
[C16: from Old French ternir to make dull, from terne lustreless, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German tarnen to conceal, Old English dierne hidden]
ˈtarnishable adj
ˈtarnisher n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
tar•nish
(ˈtɑr nɪʃ)v.t.
1. 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.
v.i. 3. to become tarnished.
n. 4. a tarnished coating.
5. tarnished condition.
6. a stain or blemish.
[1590–1600; < Middle French terniss-, long s. of ternir to dull, deaden < Germanic (compare Old High German tarnjan to hide, obscure); see -ish2]
tar′nish•a•ble, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
tarnish
Past participle: tarnished
Gerund: tarnishing
Imperative |
---|
tarnish |
tarnish |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Noun | 1. | tarnish - discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation discoloration, discolouration, stain - a soiled or discolored appearance; "the wine left a dark stain" |
Verb | 1. | tarnish - make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically; "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"; "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man" darken - tarnish or stain; "a scandal that darkened the family's good name" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
tarnish
verb
noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
tarnish
verb1. To spoil the soundness or perfection of:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Spanish / Español
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
tarnish
(ˈtaːniʃ) verb to (cause a metal to) become dull and stained. Silver tarnishes easily. deslustrar, empañar; manchar
noun a dull, stained appearance on a metal surface. falta de lustre
ˈtarnished adjective deslustrado, empañado; manchado
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.