Definitions for tarnish
ˈtɑr nɪʃtar·nish

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.5 / 4 votes

1. tarnishverb

   discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation

2. 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"

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.5 / 2 votes

1. tarnishnoun

   Oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.

2. tarnishverb

   To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.

3. tarnishverb

   To soil, sully, damage or compromise

4. 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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. 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.

2. 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.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. 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.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. 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 DictionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. 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

2. Tarnishverb

   to lose luster; to become dull; as, gilding will tarnish in a foul air

3. Tarnishnoun

   the quality or state of being tarnished; stain; soil; blemish

4. 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

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. 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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. 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 »

1. trishna

How to pronounce tarnish?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

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   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say tarnish in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of tarnish in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of tarnish in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of tarnish in a Sentence

1. Yanzhong Huang:

   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.

2. Eugene Volokh:

   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 ?

3. Nisarat Jongwisan:

   The penalties will impede on a person's access to safe services and also tarnish the dignity of those women.

4. Rita Moreno:

   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.

5. Martin Ginsburg:

   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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References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=tarnish
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Tarnish
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=tarnish
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarnish
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarnish
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=tarnish
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=tarnish