What does tarnish mean?
Definitions for tarnish
ˈtɑr nɪʃtar·nish
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word tarnish.
Princeton's WordNet
tarnishverb
discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation
tarnish, stain, maculate, sully, defileverb
make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically
"The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"; "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man"
Wiktionary
tarnishnoun
Oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.
tarnishverb
To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
tarnishverb
To soil, sully, damage or compromise
Etymology: From ternir, stem of ternir, from ternir, of origin, from Old, from darnijanan, from dher(ǝ)-. Cognate with, tarnen (Modern German tarnen), dyrnan, diernan. More at dern, darn.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
To Tarnishverb
To sully; to soil; to make not bright.
Etymology: ternir, French.
Let him pray for resolution, that he may discover nothing that may discredit the cause, tarnish the glory, and weaken the example of the suffering. Collier.
Low waves the rooted forest, vex’d, and sheds
What of its tarnish’d honours yet remain. James Thomson.To Tarnishverb
Etymology: To lose brightness.
If a fine object should tarnish by having a great many see it, or the musick should run mostly into one man’s ears, these satisfactions would be made inclosure. Jeremy Collier, of Envy.
Wikipedia
Tarnish
Tarnish is a thin layer of corrosion that forms over copper, brass, aluminum, magnesium, neodymium and other similar metals as their outermost layer undergoes a chemical reaction. Tarnish does not always result from the sole effects of oxygen in the air. For example, silver needs hydrogen sulfide to tarnish, although it may tarnish with oxygen over time. It often appears as a dull, gray or black film or coating over metal. Tarnish is a surface phenomenon that is self-limiting, unlike rust. Only the top few layers of the metal react. The layer of tarnish seals and protects the underlying layers from reacting. Tarnish actually preserves the underlying metal in outdoor use, and in this form is called patina. The formation of patina is necessary in applications such as copper roofing, and outdoor copper, bronze, and brass statues and fittings. Patina is the name given to tarnish on copper-based metals, while toning is a term for the type of tarnish which forms on coins.
ChatGPT
tarnish
Tarnish is a thin layer of corrosion or discoloration that forms on the surface of various metals, mainly sterling silver, due to oxidation or exposure to certain chemicals. It can also refer to the act of diminishing or damaging the purity, quality, or reputation of something or someone.
Webster Dictionary
Tarnishadjective
to soil, or change the appearance of, especially by an alternation induced by the air, or by dust, or the like; to diminish, dull, or destroy the luster of; to sully; as, to tarnish a metal; to tarnish gilding; to tarnish the purity of color
Tarnishverb
to lose luster; to become dull; as, gilding will tarnish in a foul air
Tarnishnoun
the quality or state of being tarnished; stain; soil; blemish
Tarnishnoun
a thin film on the surface of a metal, usually due to a slight alteration of the original color; as, the steel tarnish in columbite
Wikidata
Tarnish
Tarnish is a thin layer of corrosion that forms over copper, brass, silver, aluminum, and other similar metals as their outermost layer undergoes a chemical reaction. Tarnish does not always result from the sole effects of oxygen in the air. For example, silver needs hydrogen sulfide to tarnish; it does not tarnish with only oxygen. It often appears as a dull, gray or black film or coating over metal. Tarnish is a surface phenomenon, that is self-limiting unlike rust. Only the top few layers of the metal react, and the layer of tarnish seals and protects the underlying layers from reacting. Tarnish actually preserves the underlying metal in outdoor use and is called patina. The formation of patina is necessary in applications such as copper roofing, and outdoor copper, bronze, and brass statues and fittings. Patina is the name given to tarnish on copper based metals.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Tarnish
tär′nish, v.t. to soil by exposure to the air, &c.: to diminish the lustre or purity of, to stain, sully.—v.i. to become dull: to lose lustre.—n. a spot, stain, change in lustre of a mineral.—n. Tar′nisher. [Fr. ternir (pr.p. ternissant); terne, dull, wan—Mid. High Ger. ternen, Old High Ger. tarnjan, to darken; A.S. dernan, to cover.]
Anagrams for tarnish »
trishna
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of tarnish in Chaldean Numerology is: 3
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of tarnish in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8
Examples of tarnish in a Sentence
The Party wants to make sure nothing untoward, such as a major outbreak, could potentially threaten social stability, shadow the leadership transition process -- and not to mention tarnish Xi's personal leadership credibility.
It's a difficult zone to navigate, do I leave my reputation tarnished or do I say something that might even tarnish my reputation further ?
The penalties will impede on a person's access to safe services and also tarnish the dignity of those women.
The fabric is made out of obi, which is the sash that Japanese women use on their kimonos. They’re usually folded over and over and over, this is one piece of fabric, i would think it would tarnish, it’s been hanging in my closet.
And no matter where we are on the political spectrum, the one thing that each of us feels deeply is we want to leave that institution in as good a shape as we found it, we do not want to do anything to tarnish the court's reputation.
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