staining

stain  (stn)

v. stained, stain·ing, stains

v.tr.

1. To discolor, soil, or spot.

2. To bring into disrepute; taint or tarnish.

3. To color (glass, for example) with a coat of penetrating liquid dye or tint.

4. To treat (specimens for the microscope) with a reagent or dye that makes visible certain structures without affecting others.

v.intr.

To produce or receive discolorations.

n.

1. A discolored or soiled spot or smudge.

2. A blemish on one's moral character or reputation.

3. A liquid substance applied especially to wood that penetrates the surface and imparts a rich color.

4. A reagent or dye used for staining microscopic specimens.

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[Middle English steinen, partly from Old French desteindre, desteign-, to deprive of color (des-, dis- + teindre, to dye from Latin tingere), and partly from Old Norse steina, to paint.]

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staina·ble adj.

stainer n.

Synonyms: stain, blot¹, brand, stigma, taint
These nouns denote a mark of discredit or disgrace, as on one's good name: a stain on his honor; the blot of treason; the brand of cowardice; the stigma of ignominious defeat; the taint of vice.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	staining - (histology) the use of a dye to color specimens for microscopic study dyeing - the use of dye to change the color of something permanently Gram method, Gram stain, Gram's method, Gram's procedure, Gram's stain - a staining technique used to classify bacteria; bacteria are stained with gentian violet and then treated with Gram's solution; after being decolorized with alcohol and treated with safranine and washed in water, those that retain the gentian violet are Gram-positive and those that do not retain it are Gram-negative histology - the branch of biology that studies the microscopic structure of animal or plant tissues
	2.	staining - the act of spotting or staining something spotting, maculation dirtying, soiling, soilure - the act of soiling something