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Definition of stain noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stain

noun
 
/steɪn/
 
/steɪn/
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  1. [countable] a dirty mark on something, that is difficult to remove
    • a blood/a coffee/an ink stain
    • stubborn stains (= that are very difficult to remove)
    • How can I get this stain out?
    • The carpet has been treated so that it is stain-resistant (= it does not stain easily).
    Synonyms markmarkstain ▪ fingerprint ▪ streak ▪ speck ▪ blot ▪ smear ▪ spotThese are all words for a small area of dirt or another substance on a surface.mark a small area of dirt, a spot or a cut on a surface that makes it look less good:
    • The kids left dirty marks all over the kitchen floor.
    stain a dirty mark on something that is difficult to remove, especially one made by a liquid:
    • blood stains
    fingerprint a mark on a surface made by the pattern of lines on the end of a person’s finger, often used by the police to identify criminals:
    • Her fingerprints were all over the gun.
    streak a long, thin mark or line that is a different colour from the surface it is on:
    • She had streaks of grey in her hair.
    speck a very small mark, spot or piece of a substance on something:
    • There isn’t a speck of dust anywhere in the house.
    blot a spot or dirty mark left on something by a substance such as ink or paint being dropped on a surfacesmear a mark made by something such as oil or paint being spread or rubbed on a surfacespot a small dirty mark on something:
    • There were grease spots all over the walls.
    Patterns
    • a streak/​speck/​blot/​smear/​spot of something
    • a greasy mark/​stain/​smear
    • an ink mark/​stain/​blot/​spot
    • a grease mark/​stain/​spot
    • to leave a mark/​stain/​fingerprint/​streak/​speck/​blot/​smear
    Extra Examples
    • The glass fell off the table and a dark stain spread over the carpet.
    • I couldn't get the stains out of my jeans.
    • Our new washing powder will get rid of even the most stubborn stains.
    • The oil had left stains on the floor.
    • They can give you advice on stain removal.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • stubborn
    • dark
    • blood
    • …
    verb + stain
    • leave
    • get out
    • remove
    • …
    stain + verb
    • spread
    stain + noun
    • remover
    preposition
    • stain on
    See full entry
  2. [uncountable, countable] a liquid used for changing the colour of wood or cloth
    • wood stain
    • Apply two coats of white stain.
  3. [singular] a stain on something (formal) something that damages a person’s reputation, so that people think badly of them
    • He left the court without a stain on his character.
    • The scandal left a dark stain on his reputation.
    4. see also port wine stain
    Word Originlate Middle English (as a verb): shortening of archaic distain, from Old French desteindre ‘tinge with a colour different from the natural one’. The noun was first recorded (mid 16th cent.) in the sense ‘defilement, disgrace’.
See stain in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee stain in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: stain

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influence
verb
 
 
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