# stain

/ˈsteɪn/ (US) · /stˈeɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stain
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a dirty mark

noun · CEFR B1

a dirty mark on something like clothes or a carpet that is difficult to remove.

For teachers: a discoloured spot or area on a surface caused by contact with a foreign substance, typically one that is difficult to clean.

- I spilled some coffee on my white shirt and now there is a brown stain.
- The red wine left a stubborn stain on the ivory carpet that resisted even the most aggressive professional cleaning agents.

### 2. wood/specimen dye

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a liquid used to colour wood or to make tiny things visible under a microscope.

For teachers: a substance used to penetrate a surface for colouring, or a reagent used to highlight structures in microscopic specimens.

- We chose a dark oak stain for the new kitchen floor.
- The lab technician applied a fluorescent stain to the tissue sample to make the cellular nuclei clearly visible under the microscope.

### 3. damage to reputation

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary · Formal

something that makes people think less of a person's character or name.

For teachers: a metaphorical blemish or taint on a person's reputation or moral character.

- The scandal was a permanent stain on the politician's career.
- The false accusations remained a stain on his professional integrity long after he had been officially cleared of any wrongdoing.

### 4. to leave a mark

verb · CEFR B1

to leave a mark on something that is hard to clean.

For teachers: to discolour a surface through contact with a substance; can be used transitively or intransitively.

- Be careful with those berries because the juice will stain your fingers.
- The spilled ink quickly soaked into the porous wooden desk, staining the surface permanently before anyone could find a cloth.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice when describing damaged clothing.

### 5. to apply colour

verb · CEFR B2

to change the colour of something, like wood, using a special liquid.

For teachers: to treat a surface with a pigment or dye that penetrates the material rather than sitting on top.

- He decided to stain the fence dark green to match the garden gate.
- The carpenter stained the mahogany panels to enhance the natural grain before applying the final protective wax.

## Examples

- I have a coffee stain on my white shirt.
- The red wine left a dark stain on the carpet that required professional cleaning to remove.
- The scandal left a permanent stain on the politician's career, overshadowing his previous achievements and making a return to public office nearly impossible.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.