steɪn v. & n. --v. 1 tr. & intr.
discolour or be discoloured by
the action of
liquid sinking
in. 2 tr.
sully,
blemish,
spoil,
damage (a
reputation,
character, etc.). 3 tr.
colour (wood,
glass, etc.) by a process
other than painting or
covering the
surface. 4 tr.
impregnate (a specimen)
for microscopic examination with colouring matter that makes the
structure visible by
being deposited in
some parts
more than in others. 5 tr.
print colours on (wallpaper). --n. 1 a discoloration, a
spot or mark caused
esp. by
contact with
foreign matter
and not easily removed (a
cloth covered with tea-stains). 2 a a
blot or blemish. b damage to a reputation etc. (a stain on one's character). 3 a
substance used in staining. østained glass dyed or
coloured glass, esp. in a lead
framework in a
window (also (with hyphen) attrib.: stained-glass window). øøstainable adj. stainer n. [ME f. distain f. OF desteindre desteign(as
DIS-, TINGE)]