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stain
/steɪn/
The word carries a strong sense of permanence and frustration. When used physically, it implies a failure of cleaning or a permanent change in the material's state, creating a feeling of ruined purity or cleanliness. In a social or moral sense, it evokes a feeling of indelible shame. While a "mistake" can be forgotten, a "stain" suggests a mark that remains visible to others, permanently altering how a person is perceived by society.
Countable when referring to a specific mark on a cloth (a coffee stain). Uncountable when referring to the general process of discoloration or the act of staining wood.
💬Conversación Casual
Did you get that coffee stain out of the rug or is it still there?
Still there. I'm just gonna wing it and scrub it later.
Meanings
A colored patch or dirty mark that is difficult to remove from a surface.
"There was a stubborn coffee stain on the white tablecloth."
A moral blemish or a mark of disgrace upon someone's reputation.
"The scandal left a permanent stain on his political career."
To mark or discolor something with a substance that is difficult to remove.
"Be careful not to stain your new dress with the red wine."
To color wood or other materials with a dye to enhance its appearance.
"He decided to stain the pine bookshelves a dark walnut brown."
To become marked or discolored.
"The white fabric began to stain as soon as it touched the rust."