n.
Pronunciation: ' st ā n
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English steynen, partly from Anglo-French desteindre to take away the color from & partly of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse steina to paint ― more at DISTAIN
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 : to suffuse with color
2 : DISCOLOR , SOIL
3 a : TAINT 3 <a conscience stain ed with guilt> b : to bring discredit on <the scandal stain ed his reputation>
4 : to color (as wood, glass, or cloth) by processes affecting chemically or otherwise the material itself
intransitive verb : to receive a stain
– stain · able \ ' st ā -n ə -b ə l \ adjective
– stain · er \ ' st ā -n ə r \ noun