or+a+stain+upon

  • 1stain — [stān] vt. [ME stainen, aphetic < disteinen,DISTAIN: sense and form infl. by ON steinn, color, lit., STONE (hence, mineral pigment)] 1. to spoil the appearance of by patches or streaks of color or dirt; discolor; spot 2. to bring shame upon… …

    English World dictionary

  • 2stain — I verb attaint, bedaub, befoul, besmear, besmirch, blacken, blemish, blot, blotch, bring reproach upon, color, contaminate, corrupt, damage, daub, debase, defame, defile, detract from, dirty, discolor, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, dye, grime,… …

    Law dictionary

  • 3Stain — Coffee stains For other uses, see Stain (disambiguation). A stain is a discoloration that can be clearly distinguished from the surface, material, or medium it is found upon. Stains are caused by the chemical or physical interaction of two… …

    Wikipedia

  • 4stain — 1. To discolor. 2. To color; to dye. 3. A discoloration. 4. A dye used in histologic and bacteriologic technique. 5. A procedure in which a dye or combination of dyes and reagents is used to color the constituents of cells and tissues. For… …

    Medical dictionary

  • 5stain — [[t]steɪn[/t]] n. 1) a discoloration produced by foreign matter having penetrated into a material 2) a patch of color different from that of the basic color, as on the body of an animal 3) a cause of reproach; stigma: a stain on one s… …

    From formal English to slang

  • 6Upon the spot — Spot Spot (sp[o^]t), n. [Cf. Scot. & D. spat, Dan. spette, Sw. spott spittle, slaver; from the root of E. spit. See {Spit} to eject from the mouth, and cf. {Spatter}.] 1. A mark on a substance or body made by foreign matter; a blot; a place… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 7Stain, Gram — The Danish bacteriologist J.M.C. Gram (1853 1938) devised a method of staining bacteria using a dye called crystal (gentian) violet. Gram s method helps distinguish between different types of bacteria. The gram staining characteristics of… …

    Medical dictionary

  • 8stain — stainable, adj. stainability, stainableness, n. stainably, adv. stainer, n. /stayn/, n. 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… …

    Universalium

  • 9stain — /steɪn / (say stayn) noun 1. a semipermanent discolouration produced by foreign matter; a spot. 2. a natural spot or patch of different colour, as on the body of an animal. 3. a cause of reproach; blemish: a stain on one s reputation. 4. a… …

  • 10stain — Synonyms and related words: apply paint, aspersion, attaint, badge of infamy, bar sinister, bastardize, baton, bedaub, bedizen, begild, bend sinister, besmear, besmirch, besmoke, besmutch, besoil, bespatter, bestain, birthmark, black, black eye,… …

    Moby Thesaurus