tarnish

plural tarnishes

1. uncountableusuallyOxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.

   1918, Hannah Teresa Rowley, Mrs. Helen Louise (Wales) Farrell, Principles of Chemistry Applied to the Household Precipitated calcium carbonate, a very fine powdery form, is used as a basis for many tooth powders and pastes. As whiting it finds a wide use in cleaning metals of their tarnishes.

   1 more example

   Limiting the use of silver to special occasions might invite tarnish unless the pieces are carefully protected.

   1987 July 30, Joseph Deitch, “Removing Tarnish From Silverware”, in The New York Times

present singular third person tarnishes · participle present tarnishing · participle past tarnished · past tarnished

1. intransitiveTo oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.

   Careful storage of silver will prevent it from tarnishing.

   Synonyms: oxidate, oxygenize

2. transitiveTo compromise, damage, soil, or sully.

   He is afraid that she will tarnish his reputation if he disagrees with her.

   3 more examples

   I have next shown you the Greeks, and " the wisdom" of their philosophy, often travesting, sometimes tarnishing the Christian religion : […]

   1839, Alexander Kinmont, “Lecture the Eighth; On the Unity in Variety of the Human Race”, in Twelve Lectures on the Natural History of Man, and the Rise and Progress of Philosophy, Cincinnati: U. P. James, page 232

   The greed that many players show tarnishes the game.

   1991 April 7, “Players' Greed Tarnishes Game”, in The New York Times

   There are normally anti-embarrassment clauses in such arrangements and, from a corporate social responsibility point of view, the upside of standing by a tarnished individual is often outweighed by the downside.

   2022 March 11, David Hytner, “Chelsea are in crisis but there is no will to leave club on their knees”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms: befoul, inquinate, denigrate, blot, assoil, beclart, bedaub, bedirty

3. figurativelyintransitiveTo lose its lustre or attraction; to become dull.

   Till thy freſh Glories, vvhich novv ſhine ſo bright, / Grovv Stale and Tarniſh vvith our daily ſight.

   1681, [John Dryden], Absalom and Achitophel. A Poem, London: […] J[acob] T[onson] and are to be sold by W. Davis […], →OCLC, page 8

   Synonyms: dull, dullen, leaden, pall

4. copyrightTo use a sign, image, expression, etc. sufficiently close to a trademarked one that it brings disrepute to it.