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tarnish
Tarnish is defined as to spoil or to discolor the surface of a piece of metal.
(verb)An example of to tarnish is to expose silver to sulfur and air.
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See tarnish in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb
- to dull the luster of or discolor the surface of (a metal) as by exposure to air
- to besmirch or sully (a reputation, honor, etc.)
- to spoil, mar, or debase: to tarnish a memory
Origin: < Fr terniss-, inflectional stem of ternir, to make dim < MFr, prob. < OHG tarnjan, to conceal < tarni, hidden
intransitive verb
- to lose luster; grow dull; discolor, as from oxidation
- to become sullied, soiled, spoiled, marred, etc.
noun
- the condition of being tarnished; dullness
- the film of discoloration on the surface of tarnished metal
- a stain; blemish
Related Forms:
- tarnishable adjective
See tarnish in American Heritage Dictionary 4
verb tar·nished, tar·nish·ing, tar·nish·es verb, transitive
- To dull the luster of; discolor, especially by exposure to air or dirt.
- a. To detract from or spoil; taint: a tragedy that tarnished our hopes.b. To cast aspersions on; sully: slander that tarnished the senator's image.
- To lose luster; become discolored.
- To diminish or become tainted.
- The condition of being tarnished.
- Discoloration of a metal surface caused by corrosion or oxidation.
- The condition of being sullied or tainted.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English ternisshen
Origin: , from Old French ternir, terniss-, to dull
Origin: , from terne, dull
Origin: , of Germanic origin
.Related Forms:
- tarˈnish·a·ble adjective
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