tarnish

/ˈtɑrnɪʃ/

/ˈtɑnɪʃ/

Other forms: tarnished; tarnishing; tarnishes

To tarnish is to become dull or discolored. Silver tends to tarnish easily, which is why your mother is always having you polish the family silver.

As a noun, a tarnish is the dull layer of corrosion that sometimes forms on metal items, usually the result of the metal reacting to oxygen in the air. Metals are most likely to tarnish, but so can anything that once felt sparkly and bright but has lost its luster — even you. If the new kid just beat you in chess, your reputation as the best chess player in your class has started to tarnish. Better not lose again!

Definitions of tarnish

1. verb

   make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air
   “The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air”

   synonyms: defile, maculate, stain, sully

   types:

   darken

   tarnish or stain

   type of:

   blob, blot, fleck, spot

   make a spot or mark onto
2. verb

   place under suspicion or cast doubt upon
   synonyms: cloud, corrupt, defile, pollute, sully, taint

   type of:

   deflower, impair, mar, spoil, vitiate

   make imperfect
3. noun

   discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation
   type of:

   discoloration, discolouration, stain

   a soiled or discolored appearance