Vocabulary

tar·nish

tar·nish

\ˈtär-nish\

: to become or cause (metal) to become dulland not shiny: to damage or ruin the good quality of (something, such as a person's reputation,image, etc.)

Full Definition

transitive verb1 : to dull or destroy the luster of by or as if by air, dust, or dirt : soil, stain2 a : to detract from the good quality of :vitiate <his fine dreams now slightlytarnished>
b : to bring disgrace on : sully <the scandalhas tarnished his reputation>intransitive verb: to become tarnishedtar·nish·able \-ni-shə-bəl\ adjective

Origin: Middle English ternysshen, from MiddleFrench terniss-, stem of ternir, probably ofGermanic origin; akin to Old High Germantarnan to hide.

First use: 15th century

Synonyms: blemish, darken, mar, poison,spoil, stain, taint, touch, vitiate

2

tarnish

noun

: a thin layer on the surface of metal whichmakes the metal look dull

Full Definition

: something that tarnishes; especially : a filmof chemically altered material on the surface of a metal (as silver)

Examples

a polish that removes tarnish

First use: 1684

Synonyms: blemish, darken, mar, poison,spoil, stain, taint, touch, vitiate