I. taint 1 /teɪnt/ BrE AmE verb [transitive usually passive]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: Partly from Anglo-French teinter 'to color' , from Latin tingere ( ⇨ ↑ tinge 2 ); partly from Old French ataint , from ataindre ( , ↑ attain ) ]
1 . if something bad taints a situation or person, it makes the person or situation seem bad:
Baker argues that his trial was tainted by negative publicity.
2 . to damage something by adding an unwanted substance to it
taint something with something
The water had been tainted with a deadly toxin.
II. taint 2 BrE AmE noun [singular]
the appearance of being related to something bad or morally wrong
taint of
The city has suffered for many years under the taint of corruption.