stain
B2Neutral. Suitable for everyday, formal, and technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A discoloured mark or spot, often one that is difficult to remove; a blemish on reputation or character.
A liquid used to colour wood, fabric, or biological specimens; a dye or pigment. In biology, a substance used to make cells visible under a microscope.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes a mark caused by a foreign substance (physical). Extends metaphorically to moral or reputational blemishes. Also functions as a technical term in woodworking/biology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. 'Stain' as a wood treatment is equally common. No significant lexical variation.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/technical in biology contexts (e.g., 'Gram stain'). The moral connotation is strong in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparably frequent. The verb form ('to stain') is very common in domestic contexts (e.g., staining clothes).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] stained [with NP] (The cloth was stained with wine).[NP] stain [NP] (The berry juice stained her fingers).[NP] stain [ADJ] (The wood stained easily).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A stain on one's character/reputation/honour.”
- “Bloodstained (involved in violence/killing).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except metaphorically ('a stain on the company's record').
Academic
Common in biology/microbiology ('used a stain to visualise the bacteria'), history ('a stain on the nation's past').
Everyday
Very common for marks on clothing, surfaces ('tea stain on the carpet').
Technical
Specific in histology ('haematoxylin stain'), woodworking ('oak stain').
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- There's an old grease stain on the workshop manual.
- She used a special stain to highlight the cell nuclei.
- The allegation was a stain on his otherwise flawless record.
American English
- I can't get this grass stain out of my jeans.
- We applied a pine stain to the new bookshelf.
- The wrongful conviction remains a dark stain on the justice system.
verb
British English
- The red wine will stain the tablecloth if you don't blot it.
- He stained the shed with a dark oak finish.
- Her actions stained the family's good name.
American English
- Be careful, that mustard can stain your tie.
- We decided to stain the deck rather than paint it.
- The corruption scandal stained his entire political career.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Oh no! I have a chocolate stain on my white shirt.
- This cleaner is good for removing stains.
- The coffee left a brown stain on the document.
- He stained the wooden fence to protect it from the rain.
- The bloodstains on the floor were crucial evidence for the detective.
- No amount of success could remove the stain of his earlier dishonesty.
- The historian argued that the colonial period left an indelible stain on the nation's conscience.
- A Gram stain is routinely used in microbiological diagnostics to classify bacteria.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a STAINed glass window – the colour is a STAIN on the clear glass.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMMORALITY/ERROR IS A DIRTY MARK ('The scandal left a permanent stain on his career').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'stain' as in 'to paint' (красить). Use for accidental/unwanted marks (пятно) or deliberate colouring of wood (морилка). 'Spot' is more general/neutral.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'There is a stain *in* my shirt.' Correct: '...on my shirt.'
- Confusing 'stain' (mark) with 'stain' (wood dye) in context.
- Using 'stain' for a small, desired decorative spot (use 'speckle' or 'dot').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'stain' used most technically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. In woodworking or biology, 'stain' is a neutral term for a dye or colourant. It is negative when referring to unwanted marks or damage to reputation.
A 'stain' implies a mark caused by absorption of a substance and is often difficult to remove. A 'spot' is more general and can be cleaner/dryer (e.g., a 'mud spot'). A stain is a type of spot.
Yes. 'To stain wood' means to apply a coloured liquid to change its colour while allowing the grain to show, unlike paint which covers it.
'On' is most common ('a stain on the carpet'). 'Of' is used to specify the causing substance ('stains of blood').