WordWeb Online

1. Discolouration of metal surface caused by oxidation

1. Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air
   "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air";
   - stain, maculate [literary], sully, defile, soil
    
2. (of someone's image or good reputation) damage, place under suspicion or cast doubt upon
   - defile, sully, corrupt, taint, cloud, soil, stain

Derived forms: tarnishing, tarnished, tarnishes

Type of: blob, blot, deflower, discoloration, discolouration [Brit, Cdn], fleck, impair, mar, pollute, spoil, spot, stain, vitiate

Encyclopedia: Tarnish