discolor

/dɪsˈkʌlər/

Other forms: discolored; discolors; discoloring

If you wash your favorite white shirt with a brand new, bright red towel, your shirt is probably going to discolor, or change color from white to pink.

Use the verb discolor when something fades or alters in color. Your teeth might discolor from drinking too much black tea, and you might notice your beach towel discoloring after a summer spent at the seaside. The word discolor has been in use since the fourteenth century, and it comes from the Old French descolorer, with colorer meaning "to color."

Definitions of discolor

1. verb

   cause to lose or change color
   “The detergent discolored my shirts”

   synonyms: discolour

   types:

   bleach, bleach out, decolor, decolorise, decolorize, decolour, decolourise, decolourize, discolorise, discolorize, discolourise

   remove color from

   sallow

   cause to become sallow

   wash out

   drain off the color in the course of laundering

   infuscate

   darken with a brownish tinge, as of insect wings

   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
2. verb

   change color, often in an undesired manner
   “The shirts discolored”

   synonyms: color, colour, discolour

   types:

   blush, crimson, flush, redden

   turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame

   blanch, blench, pale

   turn pale, as if in fear

   bronze, tan

   get a tan, from wind or sun

   burn, sunburn

   get a sunburn by overexposure to the sun

   white, whiten

   turn white

   black, blacken, melanise, melanize, nigrify

   make or become black

   turn

   change color

   silver

   turn silver

   dye

   color with dye

   redden

   turn red or redder

   purple

   become purple

   gray, grey

   turn grey

   yellow

   turn yellow

   tone

   change the color or tone of

   green

   turn or become green

   blue

   turn blue

   suntan

   get a tan from being exposed to the sun

   bleach

   make whiter or lighter

   bronze

   give the color and appearance of bronze to something

   stain

   color for microscopic study

   deep-dye

   dye thoroughly

   impress, yarn-dye

   dye (fabric) before it is spun

   stain

   color with a liquid dye or tint

   fast dye

   dye with fast colors

   double dye

   dye twice

   hand-dye

   dye by hand

   piece-dye

   dye after weaving

   blush

   become rosy or reddish

   type of:

   change

   undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature
3. verb

   lose color or turn colorless
   “The painting discolored”

   synonyms: discolour

   antonyms:

   color

   add color to

   types:

   wash out

   lose color in the process of being washed

   type of:

   change

   undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature