Thesaurus: tarnish

Related headwords

Definitions

1. a. To soil, or change the appearance of, especially by an alternation induced by the air, or by dust, or the like; to diminish, dull, or destroy the luster of; to sully; as, to tarnish a metal; to tarnish gilding; to tarnish the purity of color.
2. v. i. To lose luster; to become dull; as, gilding will tarnish in a foul air.
3. n. The quality or state of being tarnished; stain; soil; blemish.
4. n. A thin film on the surface of a metal, usually due to a slight alteration of the original color; as, the steel tarnish in columbite.
5. n. discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation
6. v. make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically
7. To soil, or change the appearance of, especially by an alternation induced by the air, or by dust, or the like; to diminish, dull, or destroy the luster of; to sully; as, to tarnish a metal; to tarnish gilding; to tarnish the purity of color. "Tarnished lace." Fuller. Used also figuratively; as, to tarnish one's honor. Syn. -- To sully; stain; dim. To lose luster; to become dull; as, gilding will tarnish in a foul air. Till thy fresh glories, which now shine so bright, Grow stale and tarnish with our daily sight. Dryden. 1. The quality or state of being tarnished; stain; soil; blemish. 2. (Min.) A thin film on the surface of a metal, usually due to a slight alteration of the original color; as, the steel tarnish in columbite.
8. To soil, or change the appearance of, especially by analternation induced by the air, or by dust, or the like; to diminish,dull, or destroy the luster of; to sully; as, to tarnish a metal; totarnish gilding; to tarnish the purity of color. "Tarnished lace."Fuller. Used also figuratively; as, to tarnish one's honor.
9. v:100 n. discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation v. make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically