stain
gb/stˈeɪn/ us/stˈeɪn/
A2
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
a colored mark on something
A mark of color that should not be there, made by something like food, drink, or dirt.
Usage pattern:
a stain on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'stain' with 'paint' when talking about unwanted marks. 'Paint' refers to deliberate coloring, while 'stain' is usually accidental.
Synonyms
spot (A small area of discoloration; can be more general than 'stain'.)
|
mark (A general term for something that changes the surface appearance; not always colored.)
Antonyms
cleanliness (The state of being free from marks or dirt.)
Collocations
remove a stain
|blood stain
|coffee stain
|stubborn stain
|get a stain
Themes
daily life
|cleaning
|appearance
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There was a red wine stain on the carpet.
- The shirt had a stubborn grease stain.
- She used soap to get rid of the coffee stain.
- The tablecloth was ruined by sauce stains.
- He noticed a dark stain on the wall.
Learner examples
- I have a coffee stain on my shirt.
- There is a red stain on the floor.
- My pants have a grass stain.
- She tries to wash out the stain.
Verb
A2
action
2
to cause a mark or discoloration
To make something dirty or change its color by getting something like food, drink, or ink on it.
Usage pattern:
to stain [something] with [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'stain' with 'paint' in the sense of adding color deliberately; 'stain' here means unwanted marking unless referring to wood treatment.
Synonyms
soil (More formal or literary; often used for making something dirty in general.)
|
smudge (Implies a blurred or smeared mark, often less permanent than a stain.)
Antonyms
clean (To remove marks, dirt, or discoloration from something.)
Collocations
stain clothes
|stain fabric
|easily stained
|permanently stained
Themes
daily life
|cleaning
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Be careful not to stain your shirt with that sauce.
- The ink stained her fingers.
- The berries can easily stain your lips.
- Rust has stained the metal fence.
- He accidentally stained the carpet with paint.
Learner examples
- Do not stain your new dress.
- The juice will stain the table.
- I stained my pants with oil.
- My hands are stained with ink.
Verb
B1
action
3
to color material using a special liquid
To put color on wood, fabric, or another material using a special liquid to make it look better or darker.
Usage pattern:
to stain [material] [color]
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse this meaning with accidental staining; here it is deliberate and usually positive.
Synonyms
dye (Often used for coloring fabrics; can be more general than 'stain'.)
Antonyms
bleach (To remove color from something, making it lighter or white.)
Collocations
stain wood
|stain furniture
|darkly stained
Themes
crafts
|home improvement
|daily_life
|work
Examples
- We decided to stain the wooden deck dark brown.
- The craftsman stained the table to bring out the grain.
- You should sand the chair before staining it.
- They stained the fence to protect it from weather damage.
Learner examples
- I will stain the wood dark brown.
- We stained the table to make it look new.
- She stained the chair before selling it.
- He stained the fence to keep it safe from rain.
Noun
B2
entity
4
damage to someone's good name
Something that makes people think badly about someone’s good name or record.
Usage pattern:
a stain on [someone's] reputation/character/honor
Synonyms
blemish (A small flaw that spoils an otherwise good record; slightly softer than 'stain' in this sense.)
|
taint (Carries a stronger sense of corruption or moral contamination.)
Antonyms
honor (High respect and esteem; free from shame or disgrace.)
Collocations
a stain on his career
|remove the stain of guilt
Themes
reputation
|emotions
|relationships
|communication
Examples
- The scandal left a permanent stain on his career.
- This incident is a stain on the company’s reputation.
- Her actions were seen as a stain on her otherwise perfect record.
Learner examples
- The crime was a stain on his name.
- It is a big stain on her career.
- The lie put a stain on his record.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stain
IPA
GB/stˈeɪn/
US/stˈeɪn/
Syllables & stress
stain (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (stain)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: stain
- Plural: stain, stains
Verb
- Base: stain
- 3rd Person Singular: stains
- Present Participle: staining
- Past: stained
Word family
Forms
stains
noun
staining
verb
stained
verb
Negative and opposite forms
stainless
adjective A2
Expressions
a stain on one's character
1/ə stˈeɪn ˈɔn wˈʌnz kˈɛɹɪktɚ/
fixed phrase
a moral flaw affecting integrity
Something bad in someone’s past that makes people think they are less honest or good.
Examples
- His dishonesty during the trial was a stain on his character.
- The betrayal was considered a serious stain on her character.
remove a stain
1/ɹimˈuv ə stˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
to get rid of a mark or discoloration
To clean something so that the mark of color is gone.
Examples
- She used vinegar to remove the stain from the carpet.
- This spray can remove most food stains from clothes.
stain one's reputation
1/stˈeɪn wˈʌnz ɹˌɛpjətˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
to harm someone's reputation
To make people think badly about someone by damaging their good name.
Examples
- The false report stained his reputation for honesty.
- Her involvement in the fraud case stained her reputation permanently.