a colored patch or dirty mark that is difficult to remove, a moral blemish or mark of guilt

a stain on one's character, leave a bad taste in one's mouth, throw dirt on someone's name

stain glass, stain remover, stain resistance

Formal and Informal Expressions of stain

In different contexts, you can replace 'stain' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'blemish, mark' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'spot, smudge' is a commonplace synonym.

stain: Explore its Definition & Usage

stain Definition

1a colored patch or dirty mark that is difficult to remove
2a moral blemish or mark of guilt

Using stain: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "stain" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The red wine left a stain on the carpet.
Example
She tried to remove the ink stain from her shirt.
Example
The scandal left a stain on his reputation.
Example
The blood stain on the wall was evidence of the crime.

stain Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for stain

Antonyms for stain

Idioms Using stain

a stain on one's character
a moral blemish or mark of guilt that tarnishes one's reputation
Example
The embezzlement charge was a stain on his character and he struggled to find work after that.
leave a bad taste in one's mouth
to create an unpleasant memory or impression
Example
The company's unethical practices left a bad taste in my mouth and I decided not to do business with them again.
throw dirt on someone's name
to slander or defame someone's reputation
Example
He threw dirt on her name by spreading rumors about her personal life.

Phrases with stain

stain glass
colored glass used for decorative purposes, especially in windows
Example
The church had beautiful stain glass windows.
stain remover
a substance or product used to remove stains from fabric or other surfaces
Example
She used a stain remover to get rid of the coffee stain on her shirt.
stain resistance
the ability of a material or surface to resist staining
Example
The new sofa has stain resistance, making it easy to clean spills.

Origins of stain

from Old Norse 'steinn', meaning 'coloring matter'

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Summary: stain in Brief

The term 'stain' [steɪn] refers to a colored patch or dirty mark that is difficult to remove, as well as a moral blemish or mark of guilt. It can be seen in examples like 'The red wine left a stain on the carpet.' and 'The scandal left a stain on his reputation.' The phrase 'stain glass' refers to colored glass used for decorative purposes, while 'a stain on one's character' is an idiom that means a moral blemish or mark of guilt that tarnishes one's reputation.