subst. |
1. |
stain - a soiled or discolored appearance; "the wine left a dark stain" |
|
|
discoloration,
discolouration |
|
|
visual aspect,
appearance the act of appearing in public view; "the rookie made a brief appearance in the first period"; "it was Bernhardt's last appearance in America"
|
|
|
scorch a discoloration caused by heat
|
|
|
bloodstain a discoloration caused by blood
|
|
|
iron mold,
iron mould a spot caused the staining with rust or ink
|
|
|
mud stain a stain produced by mud
|
|
|
oil stain a stain produced by oil
|
|
|
tarnish discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation
|
2. |
stain - (microscopy) a dye or other coloring material that is used in microscopy to make structures visible |
|
|
coloring material,
colouring material,
color,
colour any material used for its color; "she used a different color for the trim"
|
|
|
microscopy research with the use of microscopes
|
|
|
crystal violet,
gentian violet a green crystal (violet in water) used as a dye or stain or bactericide or fungicide or anthelmintic or burn treatment
|
|
|
methylene blue,
methylthionine chloride a dark green dye used as a stain, an antiseptic, a chemical indicator, and an antidote in cyanide poisoning
|
|
|
counterstain a stain of contrasting color that is used when the principal stain does not show the structure clearly
|
verb |
1. |
stain - color with a liquid dye or tint; "Stain this table a beautiful walnut color"; "people knew how to stain glass a beautiful blue in the middle ages" |
|
|
dye color with dye; "Please dye these shoes"
|
|
|
ebonise,
ebonize stain black to make it look like ebony
|
|
|
dip stain an object by immersing it in a liquid
|
|
|
tattoo stain (skin) with indelible color
|
|
|
marble paint or stain like marble; "marble paper"
|
|
|
vein make a veinlike pattern
|
2. |
stain - produce or leave stains; "Red wine stains the table cloth" |
|
|
modify,
alter,
change make less severe or harsh or extreme; "please modify this letter to make it more polite"; "he modified his views on same-gender marriage"
|
|
|
smut affect with smut or mildew, as of a crop such as corn
|
|
|
blob,
fleck,
blot,
spot dry (ink) with blotting paper
|
3. |
stain - color for microscopic study; "The laboratory worker dyed the specimen" |
|
|
dye color with dye; "Please dye these shoes"
|